The winds of change are blowing through the Newburgh Free Academy girls’ basketball program.

After former coach Arturo Santana decided not to reapply for the position after the 2023-24 season, the district went outside to bring a new beginning to the Goldbacks.

Enter Matthew Greenbaum, an English teacher at Spring Valley High School and a former basketball coach in Rockland County. He was appointed as the new coach on Nov. 25 by the Newburgh Enlarged City School District Board of Education.

“This year is a new beginning for the Lady Goldbacks,” Greenbaum said. “starting with a new coach and a very young team that includes in its roster two sophomores, three freshmen and one seventh grader, this season will offer a lot of opportunities for growth and development.”

It’s been a struggle for the Goldbacks of late, after averaging less than four wins per season over the last three years. The Goldbacks have only lost one senior from last year’s team – Gia Kissel – and are looking to their junior point guard, T.T. Burden to help lead the program into the future.

There are plenty of other returning players including: Lindsay Dando, Amelia Turner, Cora Kerin, Ndeye Thiam, Keyera Staples, Aliyah Bullock Desirae Rice, and Noelle Roberts.

Emily Mitchell, Kallie McCoy, Saraji Good, Janiya Coleman and Angela Suero will join the team for the first time this year.

“The main goal this season is to play together as a team and supporting each other,” Greenbaum said. “We’re working hard as we look to be competitive in our section. The future looks good for NFA.”

Boys
The Newburgh Free Academy Goldbacks only made it to the Section 9 Class AAA semifinals after winning three previous three Section 9 championships.

The Goldbacks are looking to rebound this year but have lost a lot of fire power with the outside shooters of Elnathan Johnson and Jaydan Lorenzo. They’ve also lost forward Nae’Shawn Moody and guard Ryan Cameron to graduation.

Bryce Marshall, Shaun Gonzalez, Legend Jones, and Ethan Tyson will return to the Goldbacks.

“We are excited to be back for another year of basketball,” third-year coach Jason McAllister Jr. said.
Jaedan Pagan will join the team for the first time.

“Our goal is to get better every day,” McAllister said. “Continue to be great students, teammates, and role models. We have a great group of young men, and we are excited for the start of the season.”