Tom Collier and Tim Foote have built a friendship founded on the fundamentals of volunteering for the community and helping youths succeed.

Tim and Tom have shared a 34-year friendship. They have watched each other grow into adulthood and become professionals and parents along the way. When it came time for Tim’s son to be coached, Tim explains he was already coaching the basketball team but needed someone else to help out. The men began to coach the team together, and that is when Tim and Tom found their niche.

“We share the same vision for the game, but we couldn’t really teach our own kids. When my son needed a coach, I turned to Tom, and when his son was old enough, Tom turned to me,” said Foote.

Foote and Collier began to coach for the Sayre tournament in Pennsylvania and only five years later found another opportunity to share their experience and expertise with local youths.

Sixteen years ago, Tim and Tom teamed up and formed Chenango Vipers, the first Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) team at the YMCA for local youths. Since then, these two men have coached, taught and gave hundreds of children the opportunity to strive for success. The pair teach kids how to play a great game, try hard and learn not only about the game, but about themselves.