For Jalen Snow, it was a typical day doing his favorite thing: coaching basketball. This particular session was a Unified practice, where student athletes with and without disabilities play sports together. Just last year Snow added the inclusive athletics program to his coaching repertoire, a career that has blossomed over his seven years at Edna and John W. Mosley P-8. As the gym filled with the ruckus of dribbles and cheers, in a quiet office on the other side of the school, Snow’s colleague and fellow basketball coach, James Fleming, was checking his email.
“Our athletic director shared a nomination form for the [2025 Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA Scholastic Coach of the Year] award,” said Fleming, a special education teacher and eighth grade girls and boys basketball coach. “Watching Jalen work with those kids that day and receiving that email felt perfect. I filled it out immediately.”
Fast forward to another seemingly average day for Snow, a paraprofessional in Mosley P-8’s autism program. It’s 10:30 a.m., and as far as he knows, he’s headed to meet his students for gym class. But waiting for him there was the surprise of a lifetime: Denver Nuggets cheerleaders, Rocky the mascot and Snow’s adoring coworkers, students and players, all ready to crown him as the year’s top coach.
“I started hearing the chants and slowed down before I went into the gym. It kind of scared me,” chuckled Snow. “Once I got in, my heart was pumping. It was really good, though, seeing everybody.”
There were prizes aplenty for Snow, as the Nuggets presented him with a trophy, a backpack full of team swag, a squad-signed basketball and four tickets to a home game of his choice. Not to be outdone, his players offered up crayon-crafted cards of congratulations to show their love. It was a heartwarming moment that Snow’s champion and friend Fleming was happy to sum up.
“We don’t do it for the recognition, but I want Jalen to understand how much we appreciate him and how valuable his work is with our students,” said Fleming. “I’m so proud of him and so happy that he won this award.”
Snow says the experience is something he’ll “forever remember.” A lifelong basketball fan, he jumped at the chance to start coaching and increase his impact at the place he loves most.
“The Mosley community is like a second family to me,” Snow said. “I love everybody in the building. I love all the kids. I’ve spent more time here than any other place.”
If the Mosley Red-Tailed Hawks are number one in his heart, the Denver Nuggets aren’t far behind. He loves to reminisce about their 2023 NBA championship, but there’s a new title he holds dearest.
“I’m a huge Nuggets fan, back through the Carmelo Anthony days,” said Snow. “But I do think this is better than the championship.”
As the local award winner through the Nuggets, Snow is now in the running for national coach of the year. On behalf of the entire APS community, congratulations and good luck, Jalen!