Yonkers High School Basketball Coach Comes Out As Gay Man To Team
YONKERS, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- A high school basketball coach in Yonkers has received strong messages of support after he came out as a gay man to his team.
Anthony Nicodemo, 35, has been coach of the Blue Devils at Saunders High School in Yonkers for five seasons, according to a Newsday report. On Monday, he came out to his team at a meeting to start summer workouts, the newspaper reported.
Nicodemo told the newspaper he decided to come out after he attended Nike's Be True Summit, where openly gay athletes such as NBA basketball player Jason Collins and former NFL player Wade Davis spoke, according to the newspaper.
He is believed to be the first openly boys' high school basketball coach in New York, the paper reported.
Nicodemo's Twitter page on Tuesday was full of messages of support, from everyone from his players to strangers.
"You've supported us all these years and now it's our turn to support you! Proud to have played for you. Much love and respect," Saunders basketball player Steven Doc Ayanruoh tweeted to the coach.
"I may not know coach Nicodimo as a person but I can honestly say he's earned 110% of my respect and support," tweeted Erick Lambur.
In response to it all, Nicodemo tweeted, "What a day! The support of my family, peers, players and media have been awesome."
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