Coaches
Coach Tommy
Coach Tommy has been involved in high school basketball for over a decade and became the boys varsity head coach at Foothill High School in 2023. In his first season as head coach he led Foothill to an NCS Division 1 playoff win - which was the first home playoff win since 2006. Coaching in the distinguished East Bay Athletic League (widely regarded as the best high school basketball league in Northern California) has given Tommy valuable experience being around the highest levels of varsity basketball.
Tommy founded Advantage Basketball in the spring of 2025. The inspiration for doing so came from his desire to provide solid teaching to grass-roots basketball players in the Tri-Valley area.
Coach Tommy graduated with a B.S. degree in Kinesiology with an emphasis on Exercise Physiology from California State University, East Bay.
Coach Zach
A full time athletic performance development coach and personal trainer, Coach Zach works with youth and adult athletes from a variety of both team and combat sports. He has had the privilege of working with youth athletes that have eventually gone on to play NCAA Division 1 and Division 2 basketball, as well as various high level amateur and professional combat sport athletes. Coach Zach became the boys basketball performance coach at Foothill High School in 2023, and was named as a varsity assistant in 2024.
Coach Zach graduated with a B.S. degree in Kinesiology with an emphasis on Pre-Professional Rehabilitation Science from San Jose State University.
Coach Safi
Coach Safi brings over a decade of coaching experience at the high school level, having served as a dedicated and passionate basketball coach at both Washington High School and currently Foothill High School. His coaching philosophy is rooted in discipline, fundamentals, and mentorship, helping young athletes not only develop their game but grow as individuals on and off the court.
Before his coaching career, Safi played basketball at the international level for many years, representing his country in the 2010 Olympics, a milestone that remains one of his proudest achievements. That same year, he contributed to a historic victory by helping secure his nation’s first-ever gold medal in basketball at the South Asian Games.
With decades of involvement in the sport as a player, mentor, and coach, Safi’s connection to the game is deeply personal. His coaching is fueled by a genuine love for basketball and a commitment to giving back to the community through teaching and inspiring the next generation of players.
Coach Safi holds a Bachelor’s degree in Engineering from San Jose State University, where he balanced academic rigor with athletic passion. His analytical mindset and structured approach to problem-solving inform his coaching style—bringing a unique blend of strategy and heart to every practice and game.
Coach Ken
Coach Ken competed at the collegiate and professional levels and understands what it takes to be successful on and off the court. A fiery and inspirational leader playing for Cal State Stanislaus where he graduated with a BA in Kinesiology, Kenyatta went on to play professionally in Italy, Mexico and Germany. During the 2008-09 Season, he was considered one of the top players in Germany's Regionaliga averaging more than 20 points per game. He was also the club coach for Basket Brandenburg’s 15u and 16u club teams. Kenyatta shifted his focus towards girls basketball following the birth of his daughter. He realized that giving girls the confidence and ability to explore the opportunities basketball can offer would not only add value and change their communities for the better, but also provide the girls and their families with great role models. Kenyatta is a certified NCAA, AAU, Positive Coaching Alliance and USA Basketball Gold Coach. He is committed to the development of young athletes and helping them cultivate the necessary skills to compete at the high school and collegiate levels through coaching, personal training and skill development sessions.
Coach Donovan
Coach Donovan is a former college basketball player at the Division 2 and Division 3 level. He played 4 years at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI), a Division 3 program in Worcester, Massachusetts where he was the 1st team All-Conference, Conference Defensive Player of the Year, and NABC All-District 2nd Team during his senior year. Coach Donovan received a scholarship to play for the Division 2 program at Sonoma State University for his 5th year as a graduate student.
The years of basketball experience as a player and coach has allowed him to pass on what he's learned to young athletes of all ages.