Wesley Person

Former NBA Player, Wesley Person to Coach High School Regional Team

Wesley Person Joins Our Team as the High School Regional Team Head Coach

DME Academy is lucky to have a roster of talented coaches leading its sports teams. From those who have professional sports ties to those who have been honored at the national level for their coaching abilities and leadership. 

Join us in welcoming Wesley Person to our DME Academy coaching staff. He will be joining us as the Head Coach of the DME High School Regional Team.

Wesley’s incredible resume boasts 11 years as a player in the NBA spending his first year in the league with the Phoenix Suns, going 23rd overall in the 1994 NBA Draft. His accolades include leading the league in minutes played, three-pointers taken, and percentage made during the 1997-98 season and spending seven years of his career with the Cleveland Cavaliers. Wesley also spent one year of his career playing under Dan Panaggio, DME co-founder, in 2003 when he was playing for the Portland Trailblazers. Dan Panaggio was the assistant coach at the time. 

When asked about being coached by Dan, Wesley said, “Dan was a player-coach. He was the type of coach you could talk to and confide in. He is approachable and was always there for everyone. Not only was Dan one of the most humble coaches I had the pleasure of playing for, but he always had a reason for his decisions on and off the court.”

When his playing career came to an end, Wesley transitioned into a coaching role, spending the last 22 years mentoring the next generation of athletes. Most recently, Wesley was the head coach of the Greenville High School Tigers in Greenville, Alabama where he was named 20201 Coach of the Year.

Wesley’s passion for teaching basketball IQ and mentoring athletes has made him a successful and beloved coach. Being part of the lives of the kids who are members of his team is his way of giving back to a sport that gave so much to him.

“I have a different coaching style for each athlete. As a coach, you have to identify the best practices of each player – how to communicate with them and what they need to improve on so you can help them take their skills to the next level,” says Wesley, “If athletes put in the work, it gives them a higher chance of advancing their career. I’m always looking ahead at how I can prepare them for whatever is next.”

Wesley’s coaching philosophy is simple: teach an athlete once and your job is done. When coaches give athletes the tools to be successful, it enables them to figure out how to adapt their playing style to what’s needed to succeed. It also guarantees they won’t make the same mistake twice.

Even with a history of winning on high-school, collegiate, and national stages, Wesley considers the ultimate win seeing his players be successful in life and being given the opportunity to choose where they want to take their careers next.

“It’s great when the team wins games, but we’re trying to build these kids’ futures. I win when they’re successful.” 

DME is excited about the experience and talent Wesley will bring to the DME Academy coaching staff and look forward to the High School Regional Team taking the court soon.

About DME Academy: DME Academy is an elite, multi-sport training and educational institution designed for student-athletes who are looking to reach their ultimate potential, harness their strengths, and achieve their goals. Located in Daytona Beach, Florida, the academy offers a wide variety of programming, servicing 6th-12th grade students. DME is a co-ed boarding school that offers post-graduate programs, year-round camps, tournaments, and team events, including collegiate and professional training.

To learn more about DME and our sports programs, connect with one of our Student-Athlete Advisors by booking a one-on-one call here!

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