Founder and Coach
David L. Rivers
Experienced, Respected
Athletic Professional and Community Service Leader
Business Profile
David Rivers has over 20 plus years of consulting and executive corporate business experience; having served clients successfully in industries such as; Health & Wellness, Organic Food Services, Sports Media & Entertainment, IT & E-Commerce, Sports, Education & Leadership Programs, Manufacturing Logistics, Automated Machinery, Investment Planning, and Business Products Marketing to name a few. He has served on several corporate boards and continues to serve businesses and communities globally.
David Rivers has always held a great passion for mentoring youth and young adults from elementary to the highest professional levels. Since graduating from St Anthony H.S. In Jersey City 1984 and Notre Dame University in 1988 with a B.A. Degree in Psychology, he has championed at every turn; communicating to kids and institutions around the world, the importance of placing and pursuing academic excellence first!
David Rivers professional sports career and his many achievements has afford him the opportunity to travel as guest and keynote speaker for both educational and corporate leadership events. From the U.S. to France, London, Italy, Vienna, Switzerland, Greece, Turkey and the African continent he inspires not just students, but teachers and corporate executive leadership alike. With his results oriented mindset, David brings a natural passion to projects and business development, while always putting the best interest of his clients first!
Sports Profile
David Rivers brings 17 years of professional basketball experience, following a college career as an NCAA D1 All American point guard at the University of Notre Dame. He spent 1 year as Associate Head Coach and Interim Head Coach for Men’s Basketball D1 Program at Kennesaw State University, where the Owls experienced one of their most successful seasons in the school’s history. At KSU his responsibilities of work involved student academic performance, student athlete performance and development, and recruiting. Prior to KSU David Rivers was a assistant coach in Europe at Virtus and a proud Partner Director at Village Camps S.A. (VCSA) for 8 years. Village Camps S.A. is a company headquartered in Nyon Switzerland. The company specializes in services that support education & higher learning through sports, performing arts and media technology. Village Camps S.A. offers its Leysin Switzerland campus base facilities to High Schools and Universities around the world, establishing sustained int’l study abroad programs. VCSA has been operating since 1972 currently established in 9 countries celebrating 43 years of service with success.
David Rivers is an experienced highly motivated coach, skills developer and a results oriented professional with demonstrated success, starting from High School with his Coach Bob Hurley at St. Anthony’s in Jersey City NJ., winning three State Championships, becoming the school’s first McDonald’s All American. David Rivers earned a full scholarship to attend the University of Notre Dame (ND) playing for Coach Digger Phelps, currently a sports analysis for ESPN TV. David Rivers graduated in 1988 with a B.A. Degree in Psychology. As a player at ND, he went on to lead the Fighting Irish to four NCAA Tournament Births, and made it to the Sweet 16 his sophomore year. David Rivers would go on to win Team MVP honors all fours years as a student-athlete. His achievements at ND earned him a place in Notre Dame’s history books being in the top 5 & top 10 rankings for scoring, assist, and steals.
In 1988, the world Champion L.A. Lakers drafted David Rivers in the first round. He played with Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul Jabar, Byron Scott, James Worthy, Michael Cooper and other great legends, coached by legendary Pat Riley. Where Rivers would go on to use his experience under Coach Pat Riley to formulate his coaching philosophy in later years as Head Coach and Director working with youth, young adults and professional players & teams throughout Europe and US. David Rivers played 3 years in the NBA also playing for the Timberwolves and LA Clippers.
David Rivers went on to play 2 years in the CBA, under coach Flip Saunders and the La Cross Catbirds. Coach Saunders is currently NBA GM for the Timberwolves. David Rivers was the ideal coach & floor general winning championships and MVP honors prior to continuing his professional career in Europe where many say David Rivers was the catalyst to changing the European game and raising the expectations in performance for American and European Point Guards playing abroad.
His first experience in Europe was in Antibes France on the French Riviera with Coach Jacque Monclar, who immediately recognized Rivers’ leadership skills and named him team captain and coach on the floor. This recognition at the time was unheard of in Europe for Americans in their first year as foreign players. With Rivers’ knowledge of the game along with his leadership skills and physical abilities Antibes Basketball Club went on to win two Championship Titles with Rivers earning MVP and France national honors. Rivers remains the symbol of excellence for the club and this was evident by the honor of his jersey being retired during his induction to Antibes Basketball Hall of Fame at the grand opening of the Clubs new basketball arena in October 2013.
In Athens Greece playing for European powerhouse Olympiakos Piraeus under two legendary coaches Giannis Ioannikdis, currently Ministry Director of Sports in Athens Greece, and Coach Dusan Ivkovic, currently Head Coach of Serbian National Team. Rivers continued to exemplify his leadership skills as a coach and player on the court, leading Olympiakos to its 1st European Championship and the Teams 1st Triple Crown by winning all three major championships in the same year. Rivers was recognized with MVP Honors for all three Championships, named national player of the year and was voted by European media and sports journalist as European Player of the Year in 1997, making Rivers the first American ever to receive European Basketball Highest Honor in 50 years.
Rivers continued blazing his trail of an illustrious career landing in Bologna Italy playing in “Basketball City” for Teamsystem Fortitudo. Rivers would play with another NBA legend air-showmen Domonique Wilkins, along with one of Italy’s greatest Carlton Myers. Fortitudo was Coach by Bianchini, who was well known and respected in Italy and throughout Europe. At the time, Fortitudo had assembled one Europe’s greatest Teams during a time when basketball in Italy was at its highest level of competition and fan support rivaled any country. Rivers would lead yet another Team to its 1st Championship by winning the Italian Cup Title where he also receive and shared Co MVP Honors with Carlton Myers. Fortitudo under Rivers leadership and coaching prowess on the floor would lead to Italy’s National Championship and a second place finish. David Rivers because of his character and consummate professional conduct both on, as well as off the basketball court won him the admiration and respect from fans in Italy and all of Europe. After Rivers retired this was evident when Fortitudo’s greatest rivalry Virtus Kinder Bologna’s Owner & GM requested that Rivers join his organization to work as a coach with Coach Murffy and Coach/Director Giordano in the development of Virtus’ professional Junior Players during 2009 – 2010 season.
David Rivers’ career would take him to play in Bursa the 5th largest city in Turkey near Istanbul. Team Tofas had lots of hope for winning the national title and becoming one of Euroleague’s top professional clubs. Tofas signing Rivers was the sounding of the bell that Tofas not only wanted to compete, but also intended to be counted among the best. Rivers played under Coaches Jasmin Repesa and Coach Tolga Ongoren, and given total control /charge of the Team the moment upon his arrival as the leader and literally coach on the floor. During Rivers years with Tofas, the Team would go on to win five championships with Rivers, once again garnering recognition with multiple MVP Honors and National Player of the Year in Turkey. David Rivers achievements, the effectiveness and consistency at which he applied his knowledge, skill sets, and coaching abilities; managing all various levels of superstar talents on the court is nothing short of pure amazement credited to his mental ability to adapt to cultural environments while maintaining the highest achievements are unprecedented.
At the end of 2004-2005 basketball season David Rivers ended his professional basketball career in Europe with the very Team he started his European journey of success. Rivers returned to Antibes France playing under Coach Serge Pavillion who was the assistant coach during Rivers’ first years at Antibes Basket. The Team finished the season as one of the hottest Teams in the French League losing in the 3rd round of the playoffs.
Professional Athletic Experience
National Basketball Association (NBA)
Los Angeles Lakers 1988-1989
Los Angeles Clippers 1989-1991
Continental Basketball Association (CBA)
LaCrosse Catbirds 1991-1992
Federal International Basketball Association (FIBA)
Olympique D’Antibes France 1992-1994
Olympiakos Greece 1995-1997
Teamsystem Foritudo Italy 1997-1998
TOFAS Turkey 1998-2000
Olympiakos Greece 2000-2001
Olympique D’Antibes France 2003-2004
Athletic Awards and Accomplishments
- St. Anthony H.S. Jersey City Three State Championships
- NCAA All-American, University of Notre Dame
- NCAA Most Courageous Athlete of the Year 86’ – 87’ season
- Led the Notre Dame “Fighting Irish to four NCAA tournament berths
- Notre Dame MVP for four consecutive seasons
- Notre Dame Team Co-Captain Sophomore, Junior, and Senior years
- NBA First-Round Draft pick by the World Champion Los Angeles Lakers
- NBA Conference Championship with Los Angeles Lakers
- Earned First Playoff Appearance in franchise history for the Los Angeles Clippers
- CBA Championship with the Lacrosse Catbirds, and Playoff MVP
- CBA League MVP
- N.2French National Championships with Olympique D’Antibes, and Playoff MVP
- French League MVP
- N.2-Time French All-Star Team, All-Star Game Appearances and one Time MVP
- Greek Cup Championship with Olympiakos, and Cup MVP
- N.2-Time Greek All-Star Team
- N.2 Greek National Championships with Olympiakos, and Playoff MVP
- Italian Cup Championship with Teamsystem Fortitudo, and Cup MVP
- Italian All-Star Team
- N.2 Turkish Cup Championships with TOFAS, and Cup MVP
- N.2 Turkish National Championships with TOFAS, and Playoff MVP
- Turkish League MVP
- N.2-Time Turkish All-Star Team
- European All-Star Team, Four Consecutive Seasons
- European All-Star “Crystal Player Award” – MVP
- European Championship with Olympiakos
- European Championship MVP
- European Player of the Year – First American ever to be voted by sports journalist and media
- Top 25 Notre Dame Athletes of All-Time, Centennial Basketball Celebration
Education
1984 – 1988 University of Notre Dame Notre Dame, Indiana
Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology.
David has interest and a working knowledge of Italian and French languages.
