Program Coaches
Boys Varsity Head Coach - Benjamin Eldridge
Coach Eldridge was born and raised in Ballston Spa and now has his own family of four kids with his wife, Emma, in this wonderful community. He played in most of the youth sports programs available at the time, including Bitty, CYO, and AAU Basketball, BARC and travel soccer, Little League and travel baseball at Doubleday Fields, numerous golf tournaments around the state and country, six years of Varsity golf, and modified through Varsity basketball for Ballston Spa.
After high school, he continued playing Division I golf on scholarship at Siena College where he earned a BA in Economics. After that, he earned his Master of Arts in Teaching Secondary Mathematics at the Graduate College of Union University, and spent his first 7 years of teaching at Shaker and Niskayuna High Schools.
Coach Eldridge currently teaches Mathematics and Computer Science at Ballston Spa High School and has been coaching the JV Golf team, Modified Softball team, and the Boys JV Basketball team for many seasons.
Coach has first hand experience of the lasting impact and rich memories a positive high school basketball career can have on a student's life, and is honored to have the opportunity to help student athletes in our district enjoy that same experience.
Coach Eldridge was born and raised in Ballston Spa and now has his own family of four kids with his wife, Emma, in this wonderful community. He played in most of the youth sports programs available at the time, including Bitty, CYO, and AAU Basketball, BARC and travel soccer, Little League and travel baseball at Doubleday Fields, numerous golf tournaments around the state and country, six years of Varsity golf, and modified through Varsity basketball for Ballston Spa.
After high school, he continued playing Division I golf on scholarship at Siena College where he earned a BA in Economics. After that, he earned his Master of Arts in Teaching Secondary Mathematics at the Graduate College of Union University, and spent his first 7 years of teaching at Shaker and Niskayuna High Schools.
Coach Eldridge currently teaches Mathematics and Computer Science at Ballston Spa High School and has been coaching the JV Golf team, Modified Softball team, and the Boys JV Basketball team for many seasons.
Coach has first hand experience of the lasting impact and rich memories a positive high school basketball career can have on a student's life, and is honored to have the opportunity to help student athletes in our district enjoy that same experience.
Varsity Assistant Coach- George Kernochan
Coach George Kernochan started his basketball career here in Ballston Spa in the youth organization of CDYBL. He developed into a 3 year varsity basketball point guard, and graduated in 2013. He was awarded for his work on the basketball court, in the classroom, and as an Eagle Scout with the 2013 Glens Falls Post Star Teen Excellence award.
After graduating from BSHS, Coach headed to Fordham University in the Bronx, NY to study economics. There he spent 3 years with the Men's Basketball program, competing in the Atlantic 10 conference. Coach Kernochan started as a manager, filling water bottles and wiping sweat off the court, to practice player and walk-on, and finally as a graduate assistant coach in the Spring and Summer of 2017.
Upon graduating from Fordham, Coach was lucky enough to have been offered a seasonal contract as a Basketball Operations assistant with the Brooklyn Nets for the 2017-18 season. He assisted in a wide variety of front office duties, from international scouting report entry to road trip hotel coordination, and even tickets for the players' families on game day. Following the 2017-18 NBA season, Coach George interviewed for player development positions with both the Dallas Mavericks and Miami Heat. Fortunately for us, he ended up back here in Ballston Spa. Where he is on track to attend Law School in the Fall of 2020 and make his way back to full-time in an NBA front office.
Favorite Food: Apple Pie
Favorite City Traveled to: Cape Town, South Africa
Favorite Music: Hip hop with a side of Coldplay
Favorite Video Game: NBA 2K
Hobbies: Ultimate Frisbee
Coach George Kernochan started his basketball career here in Ballston Spa in the youth organization of CDYBL. He developed into a 3 year varsity basketball point guard, and graduated in 2013. He was awarded for his work on the basketball court, in the classroom, and as an Eagle Scout with the 2013 Glens Falls Post Star Teen Excellence award.
After graduating from BSHS, Coach headed to Fordham University in the Bronx, NY to study economics. There he spent 3 years with the Men's Basketball program, competing in the Atlantic 10 conference. Coach Kernochan started as a manager, filling water bottles and wiping sweat off the court, to practice player and walk-on, and finally as a graduate assistant coach in the Spring and Summer of 2017.
Upon graduating from Fordham, Coach was lucky enough to have been offered a seasonal contract as a Basketball Operations assistant with the Brooklyn Nets for the 2017-18 season. He assisted in a wide variety of front office duties, from international scouting report entry to road trip hotel coordination, and even tickets for the players' families on game day. Following the 2017-18 NBA season, Coach George interviewed for player development positions with both the Dallas Mavericks and Miami Heat. Fortunately for us, he ended up back here in Ballston Spa. Where he is on track to attend Law School in the Fall of 2020 and make his way back to full-time in an NBA front office.
Favorite Food: Apple Pie
Favorite City Traveled to: Cape Town, South Africa
Favorite Music: Hip hop with a side of Coldplay
Favorite Video Game: NBA 2K
Hobbies: Ultimate Frisbee
Boys Junior Varsity Head Coach - TBD
Boys Freshman Head Coach - Marc McBride
Coach McBride probably has the longest tenure as a coach in the Ballston Spa Boys Basketball program. He was a modified coach from 2001-2004, before stepping away when his twin sons were born. Coach McBride rejoined the staff as a modified coach in 2014. In 2016, Coach McBride took over as head coach of the freshman program, where he remains today. Coach McBride played three varsity sports in high school – football, basketball, and tennis. He continued to play football while attending Ithaca College. He has coached softball, football, basketball, baseball, and tennis, at various levels, from youth sports up through the collegiate level.
Coach McBride has been a middle school social studies teacher since he graduated from Ithaca College in 1995. He started teaching and coaching at Greece-Odyssey near Rochester, New York. Then, he taught 8th grade social studies for a year at Shaker Junior High School, in North Colonie, New York. Coach McBride has taught 7th or 8th grade social studies at Ballston Spa Middle School since 2000. He currently teaches 8th grade social studies and is one of two Deans for the middle school.
Coach McBride has a Bachelor’s degree in social studies education, with a minor in writing, and a Masters in special education from Nazareth College. Coach McBride was born in Ithaca, New York, in 1973. He currently resides in Clifton Park, with his sons Ian and Christian, wife Talin, and his awesome dog, Leia.
Coach McBride considers himself to be extremely lucky that he continues to do what he’s always wanted to do, teach and coach. He loves the Read-and-React offense and looks forward to helping the Ballston Spa program continue to grow as more athletes become immersed in the nuances of how well the offense works. Coach McBride believes in hard work – hard work breeds success; laziness breeds mediocrity!
Coach McBride probably has the longest tenure as a coach in the Ballston Spa Boys Basketball program. He was a modified coach from 2001-2004, before stepping away when his twin sons were born. Coach McBride rejoined the staff as a modified coach in 2014. In 2016, Coach McBride took over as head coach of the freshman program, where he remains today. Coach McBride played three varsity sports in high school – football, basketball, and tennis. He continued to play football while attending Ithaca College. He has coached softball, football, basketball, baseball, and tennis, at various levels, from youth sports up through the collegiate level.
Coach McBride has been a middle school social studies teacher since he graduated from Ithaca College in 1995. He started teaching and coaching at Greece-Odyssey near Rochester, New York. Then, he taught 8th grade social studies for a year at Shaker Junior High School, in North Colonie, New York. Coach McBride has taught 7th or 8th grade social studies at Ballston Spa Middle School since 2000. He currently teaches 8th grade social studies and is one of two Deans for the middle school.
Coach McBride has a Bachelor’s degree in social studies education, with a minor in writing, and a Masters in special education from Nazareth College. Coach McBride was born in Ithaca, New York, in 1973. He currently resides in Clifton Park, with his sons Ian and Christian, wife Talin, and his awesome dog, Leia.
Coach McBride considers himself to be extremely lucky that he continues to do what he’s always wanted to do, teach and coach. He loves the Read-and-React offense and looks forward to helping the Ballston Spa program continue to grow as more athletes become immersed in the nuances of how well the offense works. Coach McBride believes in hard work – hard work breeds success; laziness breeds mediocrity!
Boys Modified Head Coach - Brannigan Bryant
Coach Bryant grew up in Port Henry, NY and graduated from Moriah Central School in 2002. He grew up loving all team sports and participated in as many as he could. At Moriah, Coach Bryant played football, basketball, and golf. He attended SUNY Potsdam and graduated with his Bachelor’s Degree in Childhood Education, with a Social Studies specialization in 2007.
After graduating, Coach Bryant’s career started at Moriah Central School in September of 2007 filling in for a high school teacher on short notice. In January of 2008, Coach Bryant accepted a long term position at Elizabethtown-Lewis CSD in 4th grade. At the conclusion of that school year, Coach Bryant was hired by Ballston Spa Central School.
In September of 2008, Coach Bryant’s career at Ballston Spa started at Milton Terrace North Elementary School. He stayed there for four years teaching both fourth and fifth grade, and earned his Master’s Degree in Literacy in 2011. Since 2012, Coach Bryant has been at Malta Avenue Elementary School teaching first and fourth grade.
Coach Bryant started his basketball coaching career in 2016-2017 school year, and has enjoyed every minute of it at the modified level. Other coaching experiences include modified football at Moriah in 2007 and modified softball at ELCS in 2008. Coach Bryant has been coaching football at BSpa since 2013 and is currently a JV assistant.
This past year, Coach Bryant and his family moved to Malta, and have loved every second of it. His wife, Brittany, works as an SLP at Wood Rd. Their daughter Taylor is starting pre-school this fall.
Coach Bryant grew up in Port Henry, NY and graduated from Moriah Central School in 2002. He grew up loving all team sports and participated in as many as he could. At Moriah, Coach Bryant played football, basketball, and golf. He attended SUNY Potsdam and graduated with his Bachelor’s Degree in Childhood Education, with a Social Studies specialization in 2007.
After graduating, Coach Bryant’s career started at Moriah Central School in September of 2007 filling in for a high school teacher on short notice. In January of 2008, Coach Bryant accepted a long term position at Elizabethtown-Lewis CSD in 4th grade. At the conclusion of that school year, Coach Bryant was hired by Ballston Spa Central School.
In September of 2008, Coach Bryant’s career at Ballston Spa started at Milton Terrace North Elementary School. He stayed there for four years teaching both fourth and fifth grade, and earned his Master’s Degree in Literacy in 2011. Since 2012, Coach Bryant has been at Malta Avenue Elementary School teaching first and fourth grade.
Coach Bryant started his basketball coaching career in 2016-2017 school year, and has enjoyed every minute of it at the modified level. Other coaching experiences include modified football at Moriah in 2007 and modified softball at ELCS in 2008. Coach Bryant has been coaching football at BSpa since 2013 and is currently a JV assistant.
This past year, Coach Bryant and his family moved to Malta, and have loved every second of it. His wife, Brittany, works as an SLP at Wood Rd. Their daughter Taylor is starting pre-school this fall.