Internationally acclaimed athlete Corey A. Lord began his athletic career as a star soccer player and track and field champion in his native country of Barbados, which he represented throughout his elementary and high school years in the youth division of the CARIFTA Games. After moving to the United States, he set and still holds the New York State High School Track Class record as a sophomore in the 500-meter. He also set and retains the 200-meter record for his alma mater, Alfred State College, where he competed in the NJCAA National Indoor and Outdoor Championships in 1994.

Coach Corey began sharing his passion for sports in 1998 as a youth basketball coach for the North Penn YMCA, where his talent was quickly recognized. Due to popular demand, Coach Corey spent several years developing and expanding the YMCA’s youth athletic programs, including the Building Champs Basketball Program, which Coach Corey founded to give at-risk and low-income youth an opportunity to learn the fundamentals of sports.

His success at the YMCA and desire to help young athletes develop to their fullest potential led Coach Corey to found CAL Sports Academy in 2006. Initially run through the YMCA, CAL Sports Academy now serves in multiple locations throughout the Montgomery and Bucks Counties in Pennsylvania with year-round Sports Development programs, clinics, leagues, camps, AAU basketball teams, Club Volleyball teams, private training, and special events.

In addition to launching CAL Sports Academy in 2006, Coach Corey joined Gwynedd Mercy University as an assistant head men’s basketball coach and played a key role in Gwynedd’s 2009 Colonial States Athletic Conference League Championship and first-round bid to the NCAA tournament. While at Gwynedd, Coach Corey began sharing motivational presentations for high school and college athletes stressing the importance of education and providing insight on how to balance academics and athletics successfully.

Coach Corey gave a motivational message on November 2nd, 2015 at Christopher Dock Mennonite High School in Lansdale, Pa. “Time + Effort = Results. My friends, don’t look for the easiest way out, there aren’t any. Stop waiting for tomorrow, tomorrow never comes, it’s today that counts, this very moment. The time you put into anything in your life with effort is your results.” In addition to that memorable message, Coach Corey has had many other motivational speaking engagements. On July 31, 2016, Corey gave a motivational speech and ran a fitness workout at McGuire Air Force Base Ft. Dix- Lakehurst, NJ. In 2013 and 2014, Corey gave motivational speeches at Walton Farm Elementary and West Chester University respectively.

Now a highly sought-after motivational speaker and personal coach, Corey brings all his energy, enthusiasm, passion, and experience to CAL Sports Academy, where every program is intended to empower youth to build strength, confidence, courage, and a strong sense of community. Coach Corey inspires players through his passion for teaching that allows players to discover their abilities and define their own “Discovery Strength Through Sports”.  It takes: Determination, Commitment, Strength, Motivation, and Teamwork to be successful in anything you do and Coach Corey makes sure this is in his players and coaches every day of the year.

At CAL Sports Academy, Coach Corey has provided high-level training to athletes of all ages and skill levels. In 2011, his 5th Grade Boys AAU Team qualified and competed at Nationals in Detroit, Michigan. Coach Corey also took two basketball players to the 2012 NBA Fit Dribble Dish and Swish competition in Orlando, Florida where his players finished as the Champion and Runner-Up in their age groups. In 2013, his 5th Grade Girls AAU Basketball Team qualified for Nationals in Tennessee. In 2014, his AAU Boys Basketball program excelled throughout the season with several tournament championships. In 2016 his 5th Grade Boys AAU Team qualified and competed at the Nationals in Hampton Virginia. The following year in 2017 his 6th Grade Boys AAU Team qualified and competed at Nationals in Hampton Virginia. His 7th Grade Boys AAU Team also qualified and competed at Nationals in Greensboro, North Carolina.

Through his training programs, Coach Corey and the CAL Sports Academy staff have successfully trained athletes to make their Junior Varsity and Varsity school teams. Several players are moving on to play in college.

As a reward for his hard work and dedication to his craft, CAL Sports Academy is experiencing exponential growth in bringing sports training to youth in the area.

Coach Corey Lord’s accomplishments and certificates are as follows:

2023:

• Paul Moretski Award Recipient – Recognized for dedication and determination as a basketball official (March 2023).
• Selected as Vice President of the North Penn Chapter Board for Basketball Officials (March 2023).
• Returning Guest Speaker at Ursinus College – Presented on the topic of Resilience (March 20, 2023).
• Panel Guest Speaker at Gwynedd Mercy University – Participated in a Sports Symposium (April 13, 2023).
• Court Club Elite Guest Speaker at the University of Maryland – Discussed communication as a basketball official with students at the NIRSA National Basketball Championship (April 14, 2023).
• Guest Speaker at the Family Health and Benefit Resource Fair, Bethany Baptist Church (June 9, 2023).
• Award Recipient – CAL Sports Academy was awarded Small Business of the Year by Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. (November 18, 2023).

2022:

• Guest Speaker at Court Club Elite Women’s Ref Clinic – Guided officials from Mexico as part of the Sports Visitor Exchange Program.
• Referee PIAA State game in Bethlehem PA Liberty High School
• Returning Guest Speaker at Ursinus College
• Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Business Alumni
  

  

2021:

• Court Club Elite Guest Speaker
• Guest Speaker Engagement at Ursinus College

2019:

• Court Club Elite Referee Camp
• 2019 USA Basketball Gold Coaches License
• CYO Clinics
• Hosted Jr NBA Skills Challenge local competition for the local community at CAL Sports Academy.

2017 & 2018:

• 2018 Mid-Atlantic AAU Banquet Dinner (Jared Martin received a $5000 scholarship)
• CYO Coaches Clinic
• Distinguished Alumni Award presented by Gwynedd Mercy University Alumni Association
• CAL Sports Academy received an award from the Jr. NBA and Corey was invited to attend the Jr. NBA Leadership Conference in Chicago
• Gatorade NBA Combine Coach at the Riverwinds training center in Deptford NJ.
• Guest speaker on the partner panel in New York, NY at the Brooklyn Nets HSS Training Facility.
• Certified Basketball License Referee
• Jr NBA Skills Challenge Regional Official coach in Washington DC
• USA Basketball Coaches license

2016:

• Hosted Jr NBA Skills Challenge local competition for the local community at CAL Sports Academy.

2015:

• USA Basketball Coaches License

2014:

• Attended Nike Coaches Clinic
• Evaluated players for college recruitment opportunities at the Keystone State Basketball Camp

2013:

• Motivational speaking engagement at Walton Farm Elementary

 

DETERMINATION, MOTIVATION, STRENGTH, COMMITMENT, TEAMWORK….
MAKE A CAL SPORTS ACADEMY PLAYER SUCCEED!