WESTERN GULF - NASSAU BAY
Nassau Bay, TX – April 23, 2025 – Western Gulf Collegiate (WGC) is excited to announce the appointment of Mark A. Cenicola as the Associate Head Coach of the Women’s Basketball team. Bringing over 11 years of coaching experience across multiple levels of basketball and baseball plus a unique background in business leadership, Cenicola joins WGC to support player development, recruitment, and competitive success.
Cenicola steps into his role at WGC tasked with player evaluation and recruitment, providing on-court support to the Head Coach and Athletic Director, Terry Gray, as second chair of the women’s basketball program. His responsibilities include leading player support and development both on and off the court to prepare the team for competition amongst top-level college basketball teams at their respective level, while building relationships with NCAA, NAIA, and other four-year programs to ensure athlete placement and transfer eligibility upon completion of their WGC careers. As an independent college basketball program, WGC has the flexibility to play opponents of its choice at any level. In past seasons, WGC has competed against nationally ranked NJCAA Division 1 college basketball teams as well as regionally competitive teams from Region 5 to Region 14. Cenicola aims to continue improving the product on the court to be able to compete with an ever increasing level of competition.
A seasoned coach, Cenicola has worked with female basketball players ranging from youth developmental leagues to college levels, as well as male and female athletes aged 10 to 40, including professional baseball players. His recent coaching roles include Head Coach of the Girls Varsity White Basketball Team at Annunciation Orthodox School, where he focused on skill enhancement and teamwork for 7th and 8th graders, and Head Coach of BV Basketball, a corporate-sponsored club team in Texas emphasizing development for second-chance players. At Cornerstone Christian Academy, he led the middle school girls’ team to a West Houston Christian Athletic Conference Consolation Bracket Tournament Championship, and at Katy Youth Basketball, he coached junior high girls in one of the largest programs of its kind, preparing athletes for competitive play at the high school level.
Beyond basketball, Cenicola’s multi-sport background includes playing and managing the Las Vegas Rattlers baseball team (2002-2008), where he worked with former college and minor league athletes. His athletic experience complements his professional achievements as Chairman, President, and CEO of BannerView.com, a Cenicola-Helvin Enterprise Brand. An author of two books—"Help Wanted: Women to Play College Basketball" and "The Banner Brand - Small Business Success Comes from a Banner Brand, Build it on a Budget”; Cenicola translates his entrepreneurial leadership to empower women and girls in sports.
“Mark’s diverse experience as a coach and business leader brings a fresh perspective to our program,” said Gray, Head Coach and Athletic Director at Western Gulf Collegiate. “His commitment to player development and recruitment will elevate our team as we compete against ever increasing talent at the college basketball level.”
Cenicola holds a Bachelor of Science from Southern Utah University and an Associate of Applied Science from Snow College. With his appointment, Western Gulf Collegiate looks forward to a new era of success for the women’s basketball program.
About Western Gulf Collegiate:
Western Gulf - Nassau Bay was founded in 2022 as an independent college basketball program. The first program established was the women's basketball team which opened its first season of play in 2023-2024. Founded by seasoned coaching veteran Terry Gray, who now serves as WGC's Athletic Director and Head Women's Basketball Coach, has coached from the high school to Division 1 college levels. During the last two seasons the women’s basketball program primarily faced opponents in the highly competitive NJCAA Division 1, Region 14; teams amongst the top ranked competitors at this level in the nation. Because of its independence, WGC can play opponents at any college level while providing a competitive product and platform for its college athletes. Student athletes enjoy great flexibility in their academic options which means they can truly choose the best academic program to fit their needs while playing college athletics.