THE ULTIMATE FOUNDERS - A CULMINATION OF EXCELLENCE
ULTIMATE Sports was founded thanks to a collaboration between three of the Bay Area's most successful youth basketball program directors, Chris Whirlow (Director of Flight Elite), Phil Doherty (Director of Flight Elite) and Frank Allocco, Jr (Owner of ASA Basketball). As founders of Ultimate Sports, they offer a combined 40+ years of experience in teaching and developing youth of all skill levels and are now bringing that experience to a number of new programs, thanks to Ultimate Sports.
The Founders
Frank Allocco, Jr
Founder, Ultimate Fieldhouse
Owner, ASA Club Basketball, NorCal Elite
Frank was an all-state high school basketball player at Northgate High School under the guidance of Coach Frank Allocco, Sr. He led his team to a state championship in 1995, and finished his career scoring 2,008 points but more importantly, won 90% of his games.
Frank decided to continue his basketball career by accepting a scholarship to Saint Mary’s College, where he was a three year starter, a WCC All-Conference player, and a participant in the 1997 NCAA tournament. He played for two college coaches, Ernie Kent and David Bollwinkel, who taught him what it takes to play at the college level.
Frank spent 12 years as a high school coach at De La Salle High School. He has also worked with the Excel in Basketball Camps for many years, and won the Excel Open in 2002 and 2004. He is currently the Head Varsity Boys Basketball Coach at Clayton Valley Charter High School.
Founder, Ultimate Fieldhouse
Owner, ASA Club Basketball, NorCal Elite
Frank was an all-state high school basketball player at Northgate High School under the guidance of Coach Frank Allocco, Sr. He led his team to a state championship in 1995, and finished his career scoring 2,008 points but more importantly, won 90% of his games.
Frank decided to continue his basketball career by accepting a scholarship to Saint Mary’s College, where he was a three year starter, a WCC All-Conference player, and a participant in the 1997 NCAA tournament. He played for two college coaches, Ernie Kent and David Bollwinkel, who taught him what it takes to play at the college level.
Frank spent 12 years as a high school coach at De La Salle High School. He has also worked with the Excel in Basketball Camps for many years, and won the Excel Open in 2002 and 2004. He is currently the Head Varsity Boys Basketball Coach at Clayton Valley Charter High School.
Phil Doherty
Founder, Ultimate Fieldhouse
Director, Flight Elite (Est. 1997), MVP Flight
Phil served as coach and athletic director at St. Stephen’s School in San Francisco before opening a sporting goods business in 1972. Phil’s career in the sports apparel business has spanned over 40 years.
Phil began sponsoring and coaching AAU youth basketball programs in 1992 and joined forces with Chris Whirlow and founded MVP Flight and Flight Elite Basketball in 1997. Phil takes pride in the fact that these programs pioneered year-round youth basketball in Northern California.
Phil also co-founded the Warriors Basketball Club with Ken Nelson and served with him as co-athletic director for St. Perpetua CYO.
Founder, Ultimate Fieldhouse
Director, Flight Elite (Est. 1997), MVP Flight
Phil served as coach and athletic director at St. Stephen’s School in San Francisco before opening a sporting goods business in 1972. Phil’s career in the sports apparel business has spanned over 40 years.
Phil began sponsoring and coaching AAU youth basketball programs in 1992 and joined forces with Chris Whirlow and founded MVP Flight and Flight Elite Basketball in 1997. Phil takes pride in the fact that these programs pioneered year-round youth basketball in Northern California.
Phil also co-founded the Warriors Basketball Club with Ken Nelson and served with him as co-athletic director for St. Perpetua CYO.
Chris Whirlow
Founder, Ultimate Fieldhouse
Director, Flight Elite (Est. 1997), NorCal Elite
Chris has always been passionate about coaching basketball. He first coached CYO Basketball at St. Agnes in 1993 and began his high school coaching career at Northgate High School. He coached there from 1994-1997.
Chris started coaching AAU Basketball in 1996 before co-founding MVP Flight and Flight Elite Basketball in 1997. He returned to High School coaching at Acalanes HS in 1999 and became the Head Varsity Basketball coach at Campolindo High School in 2001. Chris was an outstanding coach at Campolindo winning 3 North Coast Section championships in his final 4 seasons. In 2008, Chris opted out of high school coaching to focus full time on running and expanding the MVP Flight and Flight Elite programs. He has been instrumental in the tremendous growth in Bay Area youth basketball.
Founder, Ultimate Fieldhouse
Director, Flight Elite (Est. 1997), NorCal Elite
Chris has always been passionate about coaching basketball. He first coached CYO Basketball at St. Agnes in 1993 and began his high school coaching career at Northgate High School. He coached there from 1994-1997.
Chris started coaching AAU Basketball in 1996 before co-founding MVP Flight and Flight Elite Basketball in 1997. He returned to High School coaching at Acalanes HS in 1999 and became the Head Varsity Basketball coach at Campolindo High School in 2001. Chris was an outstanding coach at Campolindo winning 3 North Coast Section championships in his final 4 seasons. In 2008, Chris opted out of high school coaching to focus full time on running and expanding the MVP Flight and Flight Elite programs. He has been instrumental in the tremendous growth in Bay Area youth basketball.
Frank Allocco, Sr.
Founder, Ultimate Fieldhouse, Excel Basketball Camp
Associate Athletic Director, USF
Frank Allocco was born and raised in New Providence, New Jersey. He attended New Providence H.S. where he was an All State Athlete in three sports, football, basketball and baseball. He was also the Scholar Athlete for the class of 1971.
Upon graduation from high school, he earned a football scholarship to the University of Notre Dame where he participated on the Varsity football and basketball teams. He was a three year letterman in football as a quarterback and was set to be the starting quarterback in his redshirt senior year (1975) until a separated shoulder curtailed his playing time.
In 1977, he became involved in youth athletics as a coach in the Saint Agnes CYO program and also served as the Athletic Director for over ten years. He is currently the President of the East Diablo CYO. In 1981, he founded the popular Excel in Basketball summer camp which serves as a teaching camp for basketball skills and provides a motivational base for the thousands of youngsters in California and in New Jersey that attend the camp each year.
Frank became the Head Basketball Coach at Northgate High School in 1991. In his six year tenure, the Broncos compiled a record of 167-28, won the California State Champions in 1995 and were the State Runner-up in 1996. He was named East Bay Coach of the Year in 1995 and 1996. In May of 1997 he was named the Head Basketball Coach at De La Salle High School in Concord. In eighteen years his teams won 17 league championships, 9 Section Championships, 4 Regional Championships, and 2 State Championships.
In May of 2015, Coach Allocco was named the Associate Head Coach at the University of San Francisco and after one season was named the Executive Senior Associate Athletic Director at the University of San Francisco.
Founder, Ultimate Fieldhouse, Excel Basketball Camp
Associate Athletic Director, USF
Frank Allocco was born and raised in New Providence, New Jersey. He attended New Providence H.S. where he was an All State Athlete in three sports, football, basketball and baseball. He was also the Scholar Athlete for the class of 1971.
Upon graduation from high school, he earned a football scholarship to the University of Notre Dame where he participated on the Varsity football and basketball teams. He was a three year letterman in football as a quarterback and was set to be the starting quarterback in his redshirt senior year (1975) until a separated shoulder curtailed his playing time.
In 1977, he became involved in youth athletics as a coach in the Saint Agnes CYO program and also served as the Athletic Director for over ten years. He is currently the President of the East Diablo CYO. In 1981, he founded the popular Excel in Basketball summer camp which serves as a teaching camp for basketball skills and provides a motivational base for the thousands of youngsters in California and in New Jersey that attend the camp each year.
Frank became the Head Basketball Coach at Northgate High School in 1991. In his six year tenure, the Broncos compiled a record of 167-28, won the California State Champions in 1995 and were the State Runner-up in 1996. He was named East Bay Coach of the Year in 1995 and 1996. In May of 1997 he was named the Head Basketball Coach at De La Salle High School in Concord. In eighteen years his teams won 17 league championships, 9 Section Championships, 4 Regional Championships, and 2 State Championships.
In May of 2015, Coach Allocco was named the Associate Head Coach at the University of San Francisco and after one season was named the Executive Senior Associate Athletic Director at the University of San Francisco.
The CEO
Mike Samuels
Chief Executive Officer, Ultimate Sports Association
Mike came to Ultimate Sports in 2015 after a long and successful career serving as a senior level administrator within college athletics. Mike began his career at Saint Mary's College in Moraga, where he became the Associate Athletics Director for External Affairs, overseeing all of the department's external operations. Mike helped reinvent the Gael brand in numerous ways, including oversight of the design and implementation of the athletic logo which was created in 2009. More notably, Mike helped Saint Mary's stay competitive by significantly increasing the department's annual revenue streams by revamping their ticketing and sponsorship programs. After 10 years at Saint Mary's College, Mike accepted a position at the University of Nevada as the Associate Athletics Director for External Relations, overseeing the department's ticket operations and sales, multi-media rights, marketing and promotions, branding and more.
While at the University of Nevada, Mike was credited with creating the University's first true outbound ticket sales team, creating a six-person sales unit, dedicated to outbound sales. This effort significantly increased sales and revenue for the department while also leading to a greatly enhanced level of customer service and an increase in annual giving. Mike was also responsible for creating both the financial model and sales plan that led to the approval of the 12 million dollar renovation to Nevada's football stadium (Mackay Stadium), the first major upgrade to the stadium since the mid 90's,
Mike attended San Diego State University where he graduated Magna Cum Laude with a degree in Business, Marketing. Prior to attending SDSU, Mike was born and raised in Walnut Creek (just minutes from the Ultimate Fieldhouse) and attended Northgate High School where he was a member of the 1995 State Championship team and the 1996 State Runners Up (Nor Cal Champions).
Articles on Mike Samuels
Pack's Samuels heads home for family, to chase a dream
Samuels Named Nevada's Associate AD
Q&A with Mike Samuels, the man in charge of solving Wolf Pack's "million dollar question
Chief Executive Officer, Ultimate Sports Association
Mike came to Ultimate Sports in 2015 after a long and successful career serving as a senior level administrator within college athletics. Mike began his career at Saint Mary's College in Moraga, where he became the Associate Athletics Director for External Affairs, overseeing all of the department's external operations. Mike helped reinvent the Gael brand in numerous ways, including oversight of the design and implementation of the athletic logo which was created in 2009. More notably, Mike helped Saint Mary's stay competitive by significantly increasing the department's annual revenue streams by revamping their ticketing and sponsorship programs. After 10 years at Saint Mary's College, Mike accepted a position at the University of Nevada as the Associate Athletics Director for External Relations, overseeing the department's ticket operations and sales, multi-media rights, marketing and promotions, branding and more.
While at the University of Nevada, Mike was credited with creating the University's first true outbound ticket sales team, creating a six-person sales unit, dedicated to outbound sales. This effort significantly increased sales and revenue for the department while also leading to a greatly enhanced level of customer service and an increase in annual giving. Mike was also responsible for creating both the financial model and sales plan that led to the approval of the 12 million dollar renovation to Nevada's football stadium (Mackay Stadium), the first major upgrade to the stadium since the mid 90's,
Mike attended San Diego State University where he graduated Magna Cum Laude with a degree in Business, Marketing. Prior to attending SDSU, Mike was born and raised in Walnut Creek (just minutes from the Ultimate Fieldhouse) and attended Northgate High School where he was a member of the 1995 State Championship team and the 1996 State Runners Up (Nor Cal Champions).
Articles on Mike Samuels
Pack's Samuels heads home for family, to chase a dream
Samuels Named Nevada's Associate AD
Q&A with Mike Samuels, the man in charge of solving Wolf Pack's "million dollar question
THE DirectorS
Steven Oronos
Director of Operations and Marketing, Ultimate Sports Association
Oronos comes to the Fieldhouse after graduating from Saint Mary’s College with a B.A. in Kinesiology with an emphasis in Sport and Recreation Management. Prior to attending Saint Mary’s College, Steve attended De La Salle high school where he was a starter on the 2010-11 team that played Mater Dei for the California State Championship. While attending Saint Mary’s, Steve remained active in the community, serving as a counselor for Excel in Basketball camps since 2012.
As the Director of Operations, Oronos focuses on running the day-to-day operations of the John Muir Health Ultimate Fieldhouse including hiring, training and management of all part-time staff, event management, scheduling oversight, and program management at the Fieldhouse.
Director of Operations and Marketing, Ultimate Sports Association
Oronos comes to the Fieldhouse after graduating from Saint Mary’s College with a B.A. in Kinesiology with an emphasis in Sport and Recreation Management. Prior to attending Saint Mary’s College, Steve attended De La Salle high school where he was a starter on the 2010-11 team that played Mater Dei for the California State Championship. While attending Saint Mary’s, Steve remained active in the community, serving as a counselor for Excel in Basketball camps since 2012.
As the Director of Operations, Oronos focuses on running the day-to-day operations of the John Muir Health Ultimate Fieldhouse including hiring, training and management of all part-time staff, event management, scheduling oversight, and program management at the Fieldhouse.
Ali Thomas
Director of Basketball Development, Ultimate Sports Association
Thomas began his tenure at the Fieldhouse as a Skill Development Coach in December, quickly becoming a player favorite due to his strong and successful relationship with the game as both a player and coach.
As a standout at St. Ignatius High School (SI), he was a Street & Smith honorable mention All-American his senior season. During his time at SI, Ali scored over 1,000 points in his career, starting for the varsity squad all four years. Upon graduating, he received a full scholarship to the University of San Francisco (USF), an NCAA Division I program, where he played from 1997 to 2001.
During his four seasons at USF, Thomas played in every game for the Dons, averaging 10.5 points, 2.8 assists, and 2.6 rebounds per game. He quickly established himself as a reliable shooter from beyond the arc, making 75 three-pointers as a freshman—a single-season school record at the time—and earning WCC Freshman of the Year honors. He still ranks second on USF’s all-time three-pointers made list (his record of 642 was just broken this season by Jordan Rathino). For his career, Ali shot 36.8 percent from 3-point range in 118 games and scored 1,237 total points, ranking 23rd all-time. Ali played in all 118 games the team participated in during his tenure.
Director of Basketball Development, Ultimate Sports Association
Thomas began his tenure at the Fieldhouse as a Skill Development Coach in December, quickly becoming a player favorite due to his strong and successful relationship with the game as both a player and coach.
As a standout at St. Ignatius High School (SI), he was a Street & Smith honorable mention All-American his senior season. During his time at SI, Ali scored over 1,000 points in his career, starting for the varsity squad all four years. Upon graduating, he received a full scholarship to the University of San Francisco (USF), an NCAA Division I program, where he played from 1997 to 2001.
During his four seasons at USF, Thomas played in every game for the Dons, averaging 10.5 points, 2.8 assists, and 2.6 rebounds per game. He quickly established himself as a reliable shooter from beyond the arc, making 75 three-pointers as a freshman—a single-season school record at the time—and earning WCC Freshman of the Year honors. He still ranks second on USF’s all-time three-pointers made list (his record of 642 was just broken this season by Jordan Rathino). For his career, Ali shot 36.8 percent from 3-point range in 118 games and scored 1,237 total points, ranking 23rd all-time. Ali played in all 118 games the team participated in during his tenure.
