U.S. Travel Coaches
Led and coached alongside our U.S. college travel teams internationally — distinct from our upcoming Chicago-based coaching staff.
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Chris Harney
U.S. Ambassador Coach
Coach Chris Harney was the first-ever U.S. Ambassador Coach for Team Travelbond. During humanitarian tours to East Africa, Harney directed basketball clinics and coached the U.S. Travelbond squad against elite Kenyan clubs across Nairobi and Kisumu.
He is the Head Men’s Basketball Coach at St. Mary’s College of Maryland, heading into his 22nd season leading the Seahawks. His tenure includes 10 winning seasons, six Capital Athletic Conference regular-season titles, five NCAA Tournament berths, and four NCAA Sweet 16 appearances.
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Alan Walls
Lead FIBA Coach
Coach Alan Walls served as Team Travelbond’s second Head Coach and has acted as a trusted sports advisor to Smile Sports. He has compiled over 30 years of elite experience in coaching and program administration, spanning youth, high school, NCAA collegiate, professional, and national team levels across 17 different countries.
He serves as the Head Men’s Basketball Coach for the Guyana National Team, following a tenure as Head Coach for the Malta Men’s National Team from 2022 to 2023, where Malta captured silver at the 2022 FIBA European Championship for Small Countries. He is also founder of The HoopVine, a news center for professional basketball coaching.
Travel Ambassadors
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Dave Apple
U.S. Media Ambassador
Dave Apple is a professional photographer, videographer, and visual storyteller who served as a U.S. Media Ambassador during Team Travelbond’s humanitarian mission to Kenya, documenting youth sports camps, exhibition games, schools, and area hospitals.
A graduate of Franklin & Marshall College, he previously served as a Staff Photographer for Epic Colorado Magazine and is the founder of Advanced Imaging Methods, a production company specializing in commercial imagery and aerial videography.
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Max Brewer
Travel Ambassador (later Program Manager)
Max Brewer is an exemplary sports leader and former collegiate student-athlete whose impact on Team Travelbond earned him national distinction. Brewer traveled to East Africa as a U.S. Travel Ambassador on the organization’s inaugural humanitarian mission, hosting basketball clinics for youth players and coaches while volunteering at area orphanages.
He was later elevated to Program Manager for a subsequent Travelbond trip to Kenya, a role he has since completed. Prior to his global outreach work, he was a standout senior guard for the Franklin & Marshall College Diplomats. In recognition of his humanitarian service, Brewer was named to the Allstate NABC Good Works Team by the National Association of Basketball Coaches.
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Joe Ives
U.S. Travel Ambassador
Joe Ives is a dedicated public servant and former student-athlete who served as a U.S. Travel Ambassador on Team Travelbond’s inaugural humanitarian mission to Kenya, running basketball clinics for local coaches and youth and volunteering at area orphanages.
He was a standout player for the Eastern Connecticut State University basketball team, and today works within the State of Connecticut Department of Correction system.
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Ed Early
U.S. Travel Ambassador
Ed Early is a dedicated athletic professional and former collegiate basketball player who served as a U.S. Travel Ambassador on Team Travelbond’s inaugural humanitarian mission to Kenya, conducting basketball clinics for local youth and coaches and volunteering at area orphanages.
He was a standout 6’7″ forward for the Franklin & Marshall College Diplomats, leading the Centennial Conference in field goal percentage during his junior season.
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Stephen Brewer
U.S. Travel Ambassador
Stephen Brewer is a dynamic operational strategist and Travel Ambassador specializing in the execution of international sports initiatives and cross-border logistics. During the organization’s inaugural tour to Kenya, Stephen served as a Group Manager, overseeing transportation networks and on-ground logistics.
Working alongside his brother Max, a key athlete on the touring team, Stephen anchored the operational footprint for community camps and coaching clinics across the country.
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Patrick Corrigan
U.S. Travel Ambassador
Patrick Corrigan is a collegiate basketball coach and former student-athlete who served as a U.S. Travel Ambassador on Team Travelbond’s inaugural humanitarian mission to Kenya, leading training clinics for youth players and coaches and volunteering at local orphanages.
He was a standout guard at Hampden-Sydney College and later Head Coach at Ferrum College, earning Coach of the Year honors. He now serves as Associate Head Men’s Basketball Coach for the University of West Florida Argonauts.
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Matt Newell
U.S. Travel Ambassador
Matt Newell is a former collegiate basketball player and corporate professional who served as a U.S. Travel Ambassador on Team Travelbond’s inaugural humanitarian mission to Kenya, organizing basketball clinics for youth and local coaches and volunteering at area orphanages.
He was a standout forward for the Elmira College Soaring Eagles, majoring in Business Management, and today works in sales, marketing, and corporate account management.
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Max Needle
U.S. Travel Ambassador
Max Needle is an entrepreneurial investor, corporate executive, and former standout athlete who served as a U.S. Travel Ambassador on Team Travelbond’s inaugural humanitarian mission to Kenya, hosting basketball clinics for regional coaches and youth and volunteering at area orphanages.
He is the Founder of Diamond Arc Legacy, an investment firm focused on small-to-medium business acquisition, and an Entrepreneur in Residence at Next Coast Legacy.