Harold McClendon is entering is sixth year on the Caiman bench. Coach McClendon is a well-known and respected youth coach, AAU coach and former girls High School coach in the metropolitan area who brings with him decades of training, recruiting and coaching experience. Coach McClendon is responsible for and is involved in all offensive and defensive team development. Coach McClendon also takes the lead for the staff in scouting of opponents and drafting final scouting reports.
During his time in the Swamp Coach McClendon has helped the Caimans win four consecutive CUNYAC Championships, four consecutive Region XV titles and two National Championships in 2018 and 2019. Coach McClendon has also mentored three All-Americans and countless All Conference and All Region players during his time at Hostos. Coach McClendon has also helped many former Caimans go on to the four-year level helping place more than a dozen former student athletes in colleges including Kyl Wilson to DI St. Bonaventure and Apilyn Bonny to DI UMBC.
Before coming to the Grand Concourse Coach McClendon coached for the nationally known and elite New Heights Girls AAU Program. During his time with “The Heights” Coach McClendon had the opportunity to coach and develop multiple DI players while also being able to coach against some of the best girl’s youth coaches across the country.
Before his time with New Heights Coach McClendon spent eight years (2001-2009) as the Assistant Girls Basketball Coach at national power Murry Bergtraum High School. During his time at Murry Bergtraum they captured eight New York City (PSAL) Championships, four New York State Federation Championships and in 2004 were ranked number one in the nation for girl’s high school basketball winning the National Championship. McClendon was responsible for developing and mentoring countless all city and all state players including All-American and New York State Player of the Year Epiphanny Prince who went onto play at Rutgers University as well as professionally in Europe and the WNBA.
McClendon, a Manhattan native who played collegiately at Lehman College began his coaching career volunteering for the Fredrick Douglass Children’s Aid Society athletic program. During his time their Coach McClendon started coaching their youth girls AAU teams. During his time there the Douglas Panther girls AAU program gained national recognition including a 4th place finish nationally.
