Dedicated Alumni Return as Coaches

Familiar faces that once walked Friends Select’s hallways as students are now on the sidelines at athletic games and practices, shaping the next generation of Falcons.

A surge in the number of alumni coaches in recent years highlights the school’s commitment to alumni outreach and brings invaluable benefits to current student-athletes. From sharing first-hand experiences with their teams to contributing to school pride, alumni coaches are giving back to their alma mater. The following coaches reflected on their experiences as student-athletes and what prompted their return.

Charles Carlies ’18

​What do you coach at FSS? 
I coach JV basketball and assist varsity basketball.

What sports did you play as a Friends Select student? 
I played basketball and ran cross country.

What are your most memorable moments during your time as a Falcon?
My most memorable moment was being a transfer student and realizing how welcoming all the students, teachers, and coaches were. I felt like family the moment I walked into the building!

What do you love most about coaching at your alma mater?
I love coaching at my alma mater because I get to witness the growth of the school and students athletically and as a community.

Steve Cramer ’14

What do you coach at FSS? 
I’ve been working at FSS since the 2020 season, where I’ve worked with both the varsity and middle school teams. Since 2022, I’ve been the head coach of the middle school baseball program, and I also coached middle school B-team soccer in 2021. 

What sports did you play as a Friends Select student? 
I was a four-year varsity baseball pitcher and a captain in my final two seasons. I also spent two years on the varsity squash team and made a brief foray into soccer during my sophomore year, donning the gloves and playing goalkeeper. I also served as our mascot, the Falcon.

What are your most memorable moments during your time as a Falcon?
I’ll never forget losing in the Friends Schools League (FSL) championship as a freshman; we lost 10-0 to Friends’ Central. It was crushing, but it lit a fire inside me. Friends Select [boys] baseball has never captured an FSL title, and that game was among the closest we’ve ever come in school history. We were a really good team, but we couldn’t close it out. As I walked back towards the bus, I decided that I had to bring a championship home by any means necessary. I was unable to do so as a player, but it is among my most serious life goals to do so as a coach here. 

What do you love most about coaching at your alma mater?
FSS has greatly shaped my worldview and given me a second home, both as 
an adolescent and as an adult. Even as I attended school here, I dreamed of one day coming back and helping contribute to the athletics program and the school as a whole. Coming home to FSS has allowed me to realize a lifelong dream; I am truly lucky to be able to say that at 27 years old. I’ve learned so much from varsity head coach Dave Semel P’18, ‘25, and I couldn’t be happier that the baseball program is in such capable and caring hands.

Sesley Cruz ’16 


​What do you coach at FSS? 
I am entering my eighth season coaching varsity softball. I also coached two seasons of varsity field hockey, one season of middle school softball, and recently coached my first season of middle school girls basketball. 

What sports did you play as a Friends Select student?
Field hockey and softball. 

What are your most memorable moments during your time as a Falcon?
Having such a strong sense of community, comfort, and consistency. Having coaches Bill Klose and Carl Trainer in my corner was—and still is—important and memorable. My teammates, Bill, and Carl always kept me on track in and out of the softball season. 

I have been a part of many competitive tournament softball teams; there was never another team that built each other up like the Falcons. Bill and Carl helped me find my love again for a sport that I played for years when it started to make me feel burnt out because I was always competing to be the best and stand out. Now, having coached almost eight seasons with them, I understand why they’ve done it for so long. 

What do you love most about coaching at your alma mater?
I have coached some of our players from middle school to 12th grade and it’s been such a wonderful, rewarding journey to see them grow. I love that I can teach them something I’m passionate about, but they also continuously teach me how to be a better coach. I also love walking through the halls of FSS and being greeted by friendly and familiar faces! 

Mariko Cummings ’04

What do you coach at FSS? 
I’ve coached various levels of field hockey at FSS over the last 10 years.  

What sports did you play as a Friends Select student? 
I played field hockey from 7th through 12th grade. It was my favorite sport! I also played middle school basketball and tennis, and managed the varsity boys basketball team in upper school. 

What are your most memorable moments during your time as a Falcon?
I remember playing all-day tournaments at Plumstead Christian Academy each year. It was absolutely exhausting playing back-to-back games, but so much fun! Also, I remember being on the All-League teams. We got to play on a team with kids from other schools we’d competed against on the Temple University turf field. It was cool playing amongst so much talent, and it spurred me to continue my dreams of playing in college.

What do you love most about coaching at your alma mater? 
FSS is an incredible community that values each person. These kinds of spaces are hard to find in our chaotic world, so giving back to the community that shaped me is one way I can repay my debt of gratitude. I cherish being able to help the program that made me fall in love with field hockey to grow. 
 
Also, passing on my knowledge to the next generations of field hockey players is important. I love seeing the kids grow; I get to help them learn how to hold a stick for the first time all the way to performing complex elimination moves. There’s something about seeing a player finally click and be able to do the new skill they’ve been working so hard on. That’s super rewarding! 

Ben Holl ’13 



What do you coach at FSS? 
Basketball.

What sports did you play as a Friends Select student?
Soccer, basketball, and baseball.

What are your most memorable moments during your time as a Falcon?
Building lifelong friendships with classmates on and off the playing field.

What do you love most about coaching at your alma mater? 
I love seeing the growth of the programs and watching the kids compete.

Arvelle Jones ’16

What do you coach at FSS and how long have you been coaching there?
I coach boys varsity basketball, and I have been coaching at Friends-Select for three years.

What sports did you play as a student at Friends Select?
I played basketball and ran cross country as a middle school student.

What are your most memorable moments during your time as a Falcon?
My eighth grade basketball team set a goal of going undefeated for the season, and we almost accomplished it. Sadly, I broke my leg that year and missed the rest of the season. 

What do you love most about coaching at your alma mater?
I did not graduate from FSS but I love the supportive spirit in the building. Having pre-K-12 under the same roof creates a unique environment. I love the support I get from students of all ages and teachers alike. There is a lot of love in the school, and that makes it easy to love coaching. 

Julie
Pozzuolo ’19

What do you coach at FSS? 
Middle school soccer.

What sports did you play as a student at Friends Select? 
I played soccer, basketball, and softball.

What are your most memorable moments during your time as a Falcon?  
Being a part of the three softball championships. 

What do you love most about coaching at your alma mater?  
I love watching and contributing to developing the FSS soccer program. I enjoy watching the progress in passing patterns and various skills from the initial day of practice to the final practice.