Legacy Coaches Weekend is a purpose-driven sports event company founded by experienced leaders Ray Johnson, Wayne Merino and Christopher Rivers. Our mission is to celebrate, educate, and elevate the high school coaching community and those who serve youth sports from the sidelines often without recognition.
Our events blend first-class production, impactful education, and deep respect for the coaching craft. We specialize in tribute-centered clinics, team showcases, and leadership seminars that bring together elite speakers, grassroots legends, and rising talent all united under one banner: Built by Coaches, For Coaches.
We exist to honor the mentors who’ve made a lifelong impact, not just after their careers have ended, but while they are still shaping lives. From live in person coaching clinics to monthly virtual seminars, our brand is rooted in mentorship, growth, and the belief that who you’ve developed matters more than who you coach. We aim to shift the culture of youth and high school sports by investing in coaches not just as instructors but as leaders, role models, and community pillars. We strive to be known for doing things the right way, without politics or ego, and always with the athletes’ and coaches’ best interest in mind. Legacy Coaches Weekend will debut with the inaugural Mark Warkentien Legacy Coaches Weekend September 12-14th, 2025 and plans to grow nationally in 2026.
Mark Warkentien was one of the most respected minds in basketball, an NBA Executive
of the Year, a trusted talent evaluator, and a connector whose influence ran deep from
college sidelines to NBA front offices.
His coaching journey began at UC Irvine with Coach Bill Mulligan, where he embraced
the grind and earned a reputation as a tireless coach and teacher. Before that, Coach
Warkentien also spent time as an assistant with Mulligan at Riverside City College and
Saddleback College, followed by a stint at Cal State Fullerton. Those early stops further
shaped his voice as a coach and recruiter.
That foundation led him to UNLV, where he joined Jerry Tarkanian’s staff as an assistant
men’s basketball coach. During those years, Mark helped guide the Runnin’ Rebels
through some of their most iconic seasons, playing a role in building one of the most
electric programs in college basketball history. He later transitioned into administration
as assistant athletic director, proving his ability to lead from both the court and the
office.
In the early ’90s, Mark brought that same eye for talent and team building to the NBA.
Over the next three decades, he became a trusted voice in front offices for the Portland
Trail Blazers, Cleveland Cavaliers, Denver Nuggets, and New York Knicks. His moves
were bold, his evaluations sharp and none more impactful than trading for Chauncey
Billups in 2008, a decision that helped lead the Denver Nuggets to the Western
Conference Finals and earned Mark the NBA Executive of the Year award.
In his last role, Mark served as a special assignment evaluator for the Oklahoma City
Thunder which was a fitting position that allowed him to keep doing what he loved most:
watching the game with curiosity, identifying talent, and helping organizations grow with
clarity and conviction.
But ask anyone who knew him, and they’ll tell you: Mark’s greatest legacy wasn’t about
basketball. It was about people.
He had a remarkable ability to make others feel seen. Whether mentoring a young
scout, backing a head coach, or encouraging someone to chase their dream, Mark
showed up with humility, honesty, and heart. He gave freely of his time, offered wise
counsel without ego, and always followed up—because when Mark believed in you, he
made sure you knew it.
He was also a devoted husband to Maureen and proud father of two daughters, Kreigh
and Aubrie, both of whom followed in his footsteps into leadership roles within college
athletics. His love for his family was the foundation of everything he did. The same
intentionality and support he offered the basketball world were magnified even more at
home.
Legacy Coaches Weekend exists because of leaders like Mark Warkentien. This event
is a living tribute to a man who gave so much without ever needing the spotlight. We
honor him not just for the teams he helped build, but for the character he carried and the
countless lives he uplifted—quietly, consistently, and always with class.
Directors Bio's
Wayne Merino has spent more than four decades as a coach, educator, and respected figure in the world of high school and grassroots basketball. Throughout his journey, Wayne has remained committed to mentoring young athletes and building programs rooted in both competitive excellence and character development.
He served as head coach at Artesia High School in Southern California, where he built one of the most dominant high school basketball programs in the region. Under his leadership, Artesia captured three state championships and six CIF Southern Section titles, reaching the section finals ten times. Beyond the accolades, Wayne has coached and mentored over 50 student-athletes who earned Division I scholarships, and dozens more who continued their playing careers at the collegiate level.
Wayne’s influence extends far beyond the high school ranks. He has coached at nearly every level—from youth leagues to the professional stage—and has served as a staff member and director for some of the most prestigious basketball events in the country, including the Nike ABCD Camp, adidas ABCD Camp, and the Magic Johnson Roundball Classic. He also co-founded and directed several premier tournaments such as the Reebok Big Time Tournament, Best in the West Invitational, and the Max Preps Holiday Classic (now known as the Desert Holiday Classic), helping launch the careers of numerous future stars and establishing himself as a key architect of the West Coast basketball scene.
Wayne also made a significant mark in the sports apparel industry. He founded I Hoop Gear, a licensed vendor for Reebok International and longtime partner of adidas America, bringing the same vision, leadership, and operational excellence that defined his coaching career.
In addition to his work in coaching and apparel, Wayne co-organized and directed the ground breaking Junior Basketball Association (JBA, a bold, alternative league that featured NBA lottery pick LaMelo Ball and gave exposure to dozens of overlooked talents. He also served as an executive for Big Baller Brand, helping expand the company’s grassroots presence.
In 2024, Wayne joined Open Gym Premier, one of the largest youth basketball organizations in the country as a consultant, where he played a key role in launching new platforms and mentoring the next generation of basketball professionals.
At the heart of Wayne’s journey is his family. He credits his wife of 25 years, Monica, and their two adult children, Matthew and Stephanie, as the foundation that has supported and inspired every chapter of his life’s work.
Wayne Merino is more than a coach and teacher. He is a cultivator of people and a lifelong steward of the game. His legacy continues to grow through the programs he’s shaped, the athletes he’s empowered, and the culture he’s helped create at every level of the sport.
Ray Johnson is one of the most accomplished and respected high school basketball coaches in California history. With more than four decades in the game, he has become a cornerstone of coaching excellence, leadership development, and championship culture throughout the state and beyond.
Best known for his legendary tenure as head coach at El Camino High School in Oceanside, California, Johnson holds the most wins in CIF San Diego Section history. Over two tenures spanning more than 30 years, he led the program to 1,005 wins, 27 league championships, 10 CIF titles, and 19 appearances in the California State playoffs. His impact extended to both boys and girls basketball. From 1980 to 2014 and again from 2019 to 2020, he led the boys program to 817 wins, including 24 league titles, 8 CIF championships, and 16 state playoff appearances. From 1981 to 1985, he coached the girls program to 88 wins, multiple league championships, 2 CIF titles, and a state runner up finish.
In 2015, El Camino High School named its gymnasium in his honor, solidifying his legacy in the San Diego community.
Ray's influence also reached the collegiate and professional ranks. He served on the coaching staffs at California Baptist University, Fairleigh Dickinson, Loyola Marymount University, and Cal State San Marcos. He was a key assistant under head coach Mike Dunlap at LMU from 2015 to 2016, helping elevate the program with his high school expertise and elite player development skills.
Professionally, Johnson was the head coach of the ABA San Diego Wildcats, guiding them to the first playoff win in San Diego pro basketball history. He also coached the Los Angeles Taiwan All Stars in the NBA Summer Pro League and served as head coach of the Dallas Ballers in the Junior Basketball Association (JBA), working directly with emerging professional talent.
Ray has represented the United States internationally, leading the USA West Under 18 team to a silver medal at the 2000 Olympic Youth Basketball Games in Colorado Springs. He also helped train and develop players for international play in South Korea and served as commissioner of the Magic Johnson Basketball Camps for over a decade.
His career accolades include California Coach of the Year (2004), National High School Coach of the Year Runner Up (2005), San Diego Coaching Legend (2015), and induction into the California High School Coaches Hall of Fame (2011). He was also honored by the San Diego Hall of Champions in 2002 for his lifetime contributions to the game.
Ray Johnson is more than a coach. He is a builder of programs, a mentor to generations, and a founding force behind the Legacy Coaches Weekend platform. His life’s work continues to impact young athletes, fellow coaches, and communities who see in him not just a coach, but a teacher of the game and of life.
Christopher Rivers is a coach, mentor, and leadership voice with over 30 years of experience developing people, building culture, and elevating performance across every level of basketball. From middle school gyms to brand boardrooms, his mission remains constant: helping others grow with clarity, confidence, and purpose.
He began coaching in 1992 as an undergraduate at UC Davis, leading the Holmes Middle School team and founding the Davis Runners Basketball Club. That early start sparked a seven-year journey through high school and AAU basketball, with stops at St. Joseph Notre Dame, San Leandro High School, and the nationally recognized Oakland Soldiers. Influenced by coaching greats like Steve Lavin, Todd Bozeman, Frank LaPorte, Mike Phelps, and Bob Williams, Christopher developed a teaching style rooted in presence, preparation, and belief.
From 1999 to 2017, he became a respected figure in grassroots basketball through key leadership roles at adidas and Reebok. He helped drive the success of programs like ABCD Camp, Reebok All American Camp, Boost Mobile Elite 24, and adidas Nations—working alongside and supporting future NBA stars. After briefly returning to the sidelines from 2010 to 2012 with the Clutch Players Program in Beaverton under Jason Fawcett, his coaching journey transitioned into a new chapter.
In 2023, he founded Chris Rivers RAPP, a leadership and coaching platform designed to elevate confidence, sharpen mindset, and empower communication. Through RAPP, Christopher delivers keynote speeches, executive coaching, team workshops, and personal mentorship to athletes, professionals, and organizations ready to grow. He also hosts The Words Matter Podcast, where he interviews leaders across sports, business, and culture about purpose, voice, and impact.
Christopher currently serves as Senior Director of NIL Recruiting at Excel Sports Management, where he advises top high school and college athletes on branding, decision making, and long-term planning in the evolving NIL space.
He has appeared in several acclaimed sports documentaries including Ball in the Family, Manchild, At All Costs, and Gunning for the No. 1 Spot, offering a rare behind- the-scenes look at the complex world of elite youth sports.
Originally from Oakland, California, and a proud Bishop O’Dowd and UC Davis graduate, Christopher lives in Wilsonville, Oregon, with his family. His journey has been shaped by the athletes he’s coached and mentored—including Ben Elliott, Jeremy Spencer, Eddie House, Mickey Hope, David Bell, Rene Jacques, Jules Milstead, Ray. Young, Matt Fahey, Adam Casares, Drew Gooden, Connor Griffin, Calvin Hermanson, and Michael Loomis—each of whom reinforced that coaching is about far more than the scoreboard.
Whether in the gym, the boardroom, or behind the mic, Christopher Rivers shows up tobuild confident leaders and create environments where people and potential can thrive.
To explore sponsorship or partnership opportunities with Legacy Coaches Weekend, please contact Christopher Rivers at:
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