Vinicius Carmo 

Vinicius Carmo is the Director of the Ross School Tennis Center and Director of Ross Sports Camp. Since the Tennis Center’s opening in 2008, he has developed year-round programs for all ages and skill levels, including after-school programs, adult classes, court rentals, private lessons, and tournaments, as well as summer sports camp programming.

Originally from Brazil, Vinicius came to the United States in 1996 after ranking in the top five of Brazil’s Junior National Rankings. He earned a full tennis scholarship to the University of Tennessee, where he studied business administration and finance while competing at a high level. Before joining Ross, he managed and directed several prestigious tennis facilities in the Hamptons.

At Ross, Vinicius has led both the boys’ and girls’ tennis teams to championship seasons. In his first year at Ross, he led both the boys’ and girls’ tennis teams to championship seasons, and under his leadership, Ross teams have continued to win multiple league titles, with the boys’ team claiming three Suffolk County championships and reaching the Long Island finals. Ross has also sent numerous singles and doubles players to the state individual tournament. His strong connections with college coaches have helped many Ross graduates secure spots at top universities across the U.S.

Vinicius has led Ross Sports Camp since its inception. Now one of the top sports camp programs in the country, it is the only sports camp on the East End where young athletes ages 4–16 can develop and learn to be the best that they can be.

Edoardo Tessaro

Edoardo was born and raised in Italy, where he was a top 30 junior under 12, 14, and 16. He also competed internationally before attending Virginia Tech on a full scholarship, where he played two full seasons of varsity tennis. He graduated in 2016 with an MS in nutrition and exercise. He reached the 46th position of the ITA ranking, led his team to their best ranking in the tennis program’s history (12th in the country), and was awarded ACC (Atlantic Coast Conference) third team. Edoardo played on the professional tour, obtaining the ranking of 1400 ATP and competing in international events, including the ATP 250 in Florida. He previously worked as a sparring partner for top 600 WTA Italian player Martina Colmegna, as well as coaching many top junior players there.

Rafaela Santos

Rafaela grew up in Brazil and started playing tennis at the age of six. Her father, who has more than 38 years of coaching experience, began coaching her at the family-owned club Academia Tenis & Cia in São Paulo. Rafaela has ten years of experience on the junior tour and five on the professional tour. At 15 years old, she made her first WTA point and reached the WTA singles and doubles ranking at 18 years old. Rafaela was ranked #1 in Brazil in Girls 16's and 18's. She played two years of college tennis at Winthrop University, where she participated in the Big South Conference Championship Team. In her first year, she was awarded freshman of the week twice and was first-team singles and second-team doubles (All-Big South Conference). She participated in the first round of the NCAA tournament in 2019. In her sophomore year, she was number two in singles and number one in doubles. She completed her Bachelor of Science in Human Nutrition and Bachelor of Arts in Modern Languages. Rafaela has more than fifteen years of tennis experience and has coached at her family's tennis academy and was an assistant tennis coach at the Nike Tennis Camp in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Rafaella Marques 

Rafaella is a 21-year-old Brazilian tennis player who just graduated with a Sports Management degree from PennWest Edinboro. Rafa worked closely with the athletics department at the sports information office and was a student manager for the university’s football team. Her background in tennis includes coaching young athletes with a focus on building strong fundamentals, confidence, and love for the game. She believes in creating a positive, fun, encouraging, and educational environment where every player can improve both technically and mentally.

Jesse Cohen 

Jesse grew up in East Hampton, NY, and he is currently studying Political Science at the University of Central Florida. Jesse has six years of experience coaching tennis, and it is a lifelong passion of his. Jesse enjoys helping players of all levels to improve their game, to build confidence, and to develop a love for the sport.

Vitalina Golod

Vitalina is originally from Kyiv, Ukraine, and has been studying in the United States since ninth grade. She spent all four years of high school at Ross, where she competed actively and made a strong impact. After graduating, she went on to play Division 1 Tennis at Sacred Heart University on a full athletic scholarship. She earned her BA and completed her MBA just last year. Vitalina’s love for tennis deepened in college, and she has spent her summers coaching at various clubs and academies. Having started on the court at just four years old, tennis has always been a central part of her life. Now she is thrilled to return to Ross to teach and share her passion with our campers.

Larissa Giraldi

Hailing from Brazil, Coach Larissa's impressive tennis background began with training under Carlos Kirmayr, a renowned former top-40 ATP player and WTA circuit coach. She later excelled at Southeastern Oklahoma State University, a Division II school where her team was consistently ranked in the nation's top 30. With tennis deeply ingrained in her life, Larissa is dedicated to imparting her expertise and fostering growth in younger players, emphasizing development both inside and outside the lines.

Gianmarco Pitotti

Gianmarco is a 26-year-old coach from Rome, Italy, who has been immersed in tennis since he was three. His competitive career in Italy saw him reach the quarterfinals of the national teams tournament at 14 and advance to the playoffs in the 3rd national teams league. Gianmarco continued his collegiate career in the U.S., playing 1st singles and 1st doubles at Ottawa University in Arizona before transferring to Middle Georgia State University, where he achieved a remarkable #3 national ranking in NAIA in 2025. He trained under former ATP pro Pietro Angelina (ATP #252) at Rome's Villa Aurelia sports club. With a full-time coaching background from 2017-2021, alongside extensive experience at winter and summer camps (Villa Aurelia, CS Mirtense, and TCP club), Gianmarco brings a wealth of knowledge to Ross for his first summer with us.

Sam English

A native of Perth, Western Australia, Sam has a strong background in national junior tennis. He moved to the U.S. to further his athletic and academic pursuits and is currently a rising junior at Pomona College in Claremont, California. There, Sam is double majoring in Economics and Math while also playing on the Pomona-Pitzer varsity tennis team this fall. This marks Sam's second summer coaching with us at Ross.

Daniel Arcari

Originally from Brazil, Daniel’s connection to Ross runs deep, and this marks his fourth summer coaching tennis here. Daniel first came to The Ross School as a high school student, drawn by its tennis program. Now in college, he remains dedicated to the Ross community, consistently eager to return and contribute to the place that played a crucial role in his growth, both athletically and personally.

Matias Ruiz

Matias developed his soccer talent at the Metropolitan Oval Soccer Academy throughout his high school years (grades 8–12). His playing career includes three years with the Long Island University - Post Campus NY Cosmos B team and two years of semi-professional soccer in Paraguay. Beyond soccer, Matias enjoys futsal, tennis, and basketball. He joined the Ross team four years ago, initially with our Soccer camp, and has since led our Multisport program as head coach for the past three years.

Brandon Carillo

Meet Coach Brandon, affectionately known by most of our campers as "Coach B." A Bronx native, Brandon attended Dominican University, majoring in criminal justice. While football and basketball are his primary sports, he's also a big music lover. Expect a lively atmosphere when Coach B is around—he always has a speaker ready so everyone can enjoy music and dancing throughout the day!  

Chris Lawton 

Coach Chris is another Bronx, New York native! He's an avid football and basketball fan, and this summer, he's excited to bring plenty of laughter and fun games to our campers. Be warned: if your child suddenly becomes a Dallas Cowboys enthusiast, you'll know who to thank!

Zay Rodriguez

Meet Coach Zay, a 23-year-old native of Manhattan's Inwood area (Dyckman). Basketball has been his lifelong passion since he started playing at age nine. Coach Zay brings four years of sports instruction experience, and he's absolutely thrilled for his inaugural summer at the Ross Sports Camp!

Jake Horowitz

Nineteen-year-old Jake hails from New York City and is currently a sophomore at the University of Texas in Austin. While basketball and golf are his favorites, Coach Jake genuinely loves playing all sports and staying active. He's super excited to share his passion for sports with our campers throughout the summer!

Viggo Negroponte

Viggo is currently a post-graduate at Southampton High School, where he enjoys playing basketball, volleyball, floor hockey, and even the occasional bowling tournament. This is Coach Viggo's third summer as a Multisport counselor at the Ross School Sports Camp, and he particularly loves seeing familiar faces as campers keep returning for more fun and games each year.

Steffen Colon 

Steffen brings over two decades of experience as a Quarterback Coach & Offensive Strategist. His journey began in youth football, leading championship teams as a quarterback, a role he continued at Division I-AA Glenville State College. He then played eight years of arena football, starting for three teams and securing four league championships. Simultaneously, Steffen dedicated himself to youth development, running camps and training dozens of young athletes. He currently personally trains six quarterbacks, all of whom have won titles under his guidance in both tackle and flag football. For the past three years, he has served as Offensive Coordinator at Poly Prep High School, leading them to two championships in three appearances. He's also contributed to seven championships with the Fastbreak Travel Team. Beyond football, his strategic acumen extends to basketball, where he's coached high school boys' and girls' teams to two championships, demonstrating his versatile approach to player development. Coaching the next generation of athletes, especially those with exciting raw talent, is his true passion.

Jordan Everton Samuels

Originally from Cape Town, South Africa, Coach Jordan is currently a student of Economics and Government at Franklin & Marshall College, where he plays on the men's soccer team. His collegiate career, preceded by his time at The Hill School in Pennsylvania, has seen him develop as a versatile player in both midfield and defensive roles, contributing to multiple shutouts and gaining significant experience in competitive environments. Jordan's coaching philosophy centers on creating practices that are enjoyable yet meticulously detailed, ensuring players not only develop strong fundamentals but also embrace the learning process. Away from the field, Jordan enjoys staying active and discovering new places.

Uzayr Lee

Coach Uzayr, from Cape Town, South Africa, is a 23-year old dedicated soccer coach and accomplished student-athlete. He's currently competing at Hastings College, building on a successful period at Patrick & Henry Community College. Uzayr is recognized for his strong tactical understanding, leadership, and commitment to excellence on and off the field—qualities he brings directly to his coaching. His philosophy centers on player development, teamwork, and tactical growth, cultivating an environment where athletes can thrive technically and personally. With experience coaching both youth and competitive teams, Uzayr is committed to inspiring continuous improvement and a deep love for soccer through a positive and hardworking atmosphere

Billy Singleton

Billy serves as our Head Coach and Director of the Knicks Basketball Camp, a cornerstone of our program every summer here at Ross. A St. John's University alumnus, Billy graduated in 1991 with a B.S. in Criminal Justice, having also played for the St. John's Basketball team from 1989-91, captaining the 1991 NCAA Elite 8 team. His impressive 16-year career as a professional basketball player spanned Europe, Asia, South America, and Australia. Beyond playing, Billy has 11 years of experience as a professional and college basketball coach, served as AAU Director for N.Y. Gauchos, and spent three years with NBA International in China and India. He also dedicated a decade to teaching as an E.I.S. School teacher in Yonkers, NY, and worked for eight years in the NBA International Fan Engagement Department.

Brandon Kennedy Gay

Meet Coach Brandon, our Assistant Director, who boasts a lifelong passion for basketball. His journey began with AAU play from 5th grade through high school at East Hampton High. He then excelled at the collegiate level, playing Division II at LIU Post before transferring to Division III at SUNY Brockport, where he was named team captain for the 2021-2022 season. Brandon graduated with a degree in Sports Management. His diverse experience includes teaching NBPA clinics and working as a team attendant for the Long Island Nets (Brooklyn's G League team) this past fall and winter. Most recently, he led an AAU program as head coach this spring. Coach Brandon is excited to bring his expertise back to the Knicks Camp for his second year.

Ethan Ginsberg

Meet Coach Ethan, whose passion for basketball began in high school and continues at the University of Central Florida, where he plays club-level ball. Coach Ethan is thrilled to be joining us for his first summer coaching at the Ross Basketball Camp!

Eric Frazier

A lifelong basketball player, Eric led the East Hampton Bonackers to a Suffolk County Class A championship and the Long Island Championship in 2009. In 2010, he earned a scholarship to Mount Zion Christian Academy via Elon University, winning the Bull City Classic Championship with his team that year. Eric began working at the Ross Summer Camp in 2011 as a basketball specialist. For the past 10 years, he has worked closely with Jr. Knicks coaches, fueled by his enjoyment of the game and his dedication to helping young players get better.

Brendan Schoenberg

A lifelong basketball player, Coach Brendan currently plays at Syosset High School and has competed in AAU with Long Island Lightning and Empire Athletics. In addition to basketball, he's also a high school golfer. This is Brendan's second year coaching basketball.

Jayson Kiang

Coach Jay has been a key member of the Knicks family since 2014. With over 25 years of experience, he has coached basketball at the high school, AAU, and CYO levels. Complementing his extensive coaching career, Jay has also been a dedicated math teacher for the past 29 years, and for 21 of those years, he has led his department as chair. 

Derek Harmsworth 

Currently a substitute teacher in the Longwood Central School District, Derek is working towards his Master's in Physical Education. With three years of experience, he teaches both golf and basketball, and this is his third summer coaching at the Ross School Sports Camp. A former collegiate football and golf player, Derek's greatest passion by far is coaching basketball.

Chance Fortenberry

Coach Chance returns to the Ross Sports Camp for his third consecutive year. His connection to Ross runs deep, as he was a Jr. Knicks camper during their very first summer here 15 years ago! Chance played AAU basketball from 4th grade through high school with various New York City programs and was a starting point guard for Berkeley Carroll High School in Brooklyn. He currently plays Club Basketball.

Vinnie Harris

Vinnie Harris has a remarkable track record, having developed and inspired thousands of young people across the country and internationally to excel as student-athletes and professionals. As an outstanding player and captain of the Manhattan College basketball team, he was named to "Who's Who Among American Colleges and Universities." After graduation, he played in the NBA Pro Summer League before embarking on a professional career in Argentina, France, and Germany. Vinnie brings over 45 years of experience to the Knick Camps at Ross and is a past recipient of the Boys and Girls Club of America National Service to Youth Award. He resides in Decatur, GA, during the school year and spends his summers at his home in Sag Harbor.