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“Coach Mel” has more than 25 years of experience mentoring Philadelphia athletes. He takes over a young team ready to learn.

The basketball program at Girard College is receiving an infusion of energy and experience as they begin the 2022-23 season under the direction of new Head Coach Jamel Lindsey. Lindsey, 47, comes to Girard after seven years at Abraham Lincoln High School and brings more than 25 years of coaching and mentoring experience to a program that is embracing a new direction.

“I’m beyond excited to embark upon this new journey with Girard College,” Lindsey said. “The student-athletes here are so mentally sound and of such high character. I’m looking forward to learning from them as we work together to build this program.”

Basketball has been at the center of Lindsey’s life since childhood. “Growing up as a kid from Logan, it was always basketball for me,” he said. “When I was happy, sad, or angry, I turned to basketball. The life lessons I learned on the court are the same ones I try to teach to my players.”

Lindsey started his coaching career at 19, ignited by a passion to give back to the Philadelphia community and be that person in someone’s life who could mentor, inspire, and support young people with hope and love.

By following this path, Lindsey has developed championship-caliber teams and assisted players to develop skill sets that have taken them to college and the NBA, all while never losing focus on serving youth.

Some of the players Lindsey has coached include De’Andre Hunter of the Atlanta Hawks and Charlie Brown, Jr. of the Philadelphia 76ers. Justin Edwards, a five-star recruit with Imhotep Charter High School, recently signed his letter of intent to play for the University of Kentucky.

Guy Moore, who joined Girard College as Athletic Director last spring, is excited for the vision Coach Lindsey is bringing to the program.

“Coach Mel knows how to motivate young people to succeed,” Moore said. “His focus on character and teamwork will resonate with our students and direct our program back to the championship level.”

Prior to the 2021-22 season, which was largely disrupted due to the pandemic, Girard College joined the Pennsylvania Independent Schools Athletic Association (PAISAA) as a full member, allowing for greater opportunity to compete against similar types and sizes of schools, as well as providing greater diversity in postseason competitions. Girard continues to compete in interscholastic athletics as a member of the Penn-Jersey Athletic Association.

Girard College won a state championship in 2008-09 with a victory over Kennedy Catholic in the PIAA Class A finals. Kennedy Catholic would get revenge eight years later, defeating the Cavaliers in the 2016-17 championship game.

The Varsity Boys Basketball season kicks off Friday, December 2 at Friends Select School, with their home opener on Saturday, December 3 against Cristo Rey Baltimore. See the full schedule here.