My Biography

Coach Medina, born and raised in New York, is no stranger to the city known as the “Mecca of Basketball”. An avid student of the game, Joe was actively involved in organized basketball since the age of 7. A standout athlete and Long Island native, he played at Commack North HS for the 1984 League IV Basketball Champions and was an All-league, All County, Exceptional Senior All-Star 1985 as well as team MVP.

In 1990, he earned a scholarship to play basketball at Broward Community College in South Florida becoming team Captain and being voted Co-MVP leading his team to win the 1992 Southeastern Conference Tournament Championship, a feat not accomplished in 13 years at the school. After Broward, Joe returned to New York to attend St. John's University. Although he would not play basketball at St. John’s because of his ineligibility, he made the best of his time at St. John ' s graduating with a 3.64 GPA and a Criminal Justice degree. It was also during this time that his passion for competition and love for the game led him to coaching.

In 1992, he began coaching his younger brother, volunteering his time working with local underprivileged youth in his area and coaching them in basketball and baseball. He led them to 8 Championships in 6 years between the two sports. Coach Medina has taught and motivated hundreds of youth in the Queens area. He has also produced the NY Newsday and Times Ledger's Baseball Player of the year (Queens) in his brother, Richie Armento who now attends St. John University as a freshman to start the 2006 season.

In April, 1995 Joe was invited to play professional basketball with the San Juan Capitolinos of the Superior League (BSN) in Puerto Rico. With graduation from
St. John's pending, he decided instead to pursue a career with the Department of Corrections (NYC) through a private company, working with early release inmates in a halfway house setting. Shortly after that experience, he worked with the Department of Homeless Services (NYC) as an Investigator. His experiences with the inner city struggle led him to conclude that he could do more for himself and people through coaching and education. Coach Medina would return to St. John ' s University as an Administrator coordinating two grant funded programs (Brooklyn Bridge & GEAR UP) while pursuing his Masters degree in Administration in Higher Education.

In August 1998, he received an opportunity to coach basketball at Dowling College, a Division II program in Long Island, NY. He fell in love with the experience and knew he had to do it at a much higher level. Through Joe ' s contacts in St. John ' s University he was introduced to the General Manager/Head Coach of the Long Island Surf in the USBL and shortly after was offered an assistant coaching position with the team. His Surf contacts were able to get him in the door coaching for the New York Knicks at their camps and community relations events. He also worked at the legendary Five Star Basketball Camp in Honesdale, PA. Joe began studying the best coaches in the game reading books and listening to tape series realizing his mind was consistent with the beliefs of the game's top coaches. He combined that with his uncanny understanding of the X’s and O’s of the game to become a top coaching prospect.

Coach Medina was promoted with great sucess. The General Manager, believing in his abilities, gave him an opportunity to show what he could do at the 2000 Southern California summer Pro League, the most celebrated NBA summer Pro league in the nation and a very difficult tournament to win. Joe reached the Championship game in his first Head Coaching experience losing by one point in the final seconds after being in command most of the game. He did an exceptional job creating team unity, providing leadership and incorporating his system which was executed with much success by the players. He was consequently named the Associate Head Coach for the 2001 USBL.

He proceeded to coach alongside some of the NBA ’ s greatest players defeating Robert Parish and assistant coach Harvey Grant in his first game on the road. Coach Medina kept the Surf at the top of the division most of the year and ended up knocking off the number one seed in the playoffs reaching the final four in the USBL. Following the season, he was asked to coach the USBL All-stars in Haarlem, Amsterdam.

In September, 2005 Joseph Medina was named Head Coach of the Strong Island Sound. The American Basketball Association’s Long Island, NY franchise. In his first season he earned a spot in the Great Eight Tournament in Rochester, NY defeating the number one seed in the league to reach the Final Four. In doing so he recorded one of the ABA’s hottest streaks winning 10 consecutive games, 14 out of the last 15 and was nominated as a candidate for the ABA Coach of the Year Award.