Michael DeSimone — Athletic Director, Charter School of Educational Excellence
DeSimone oversees a comprehensive interscholastic athletics program and has served as the Athletic Director, Physical Education Director, and Health Director at the Charter School of Educational Excellence (CSEE) in Yonkers, New York, since 2011.
He holds a degree from Mercy University and has a background in sports from his high school days, along with coaching experience.
DeSimone built CSEE's athletics program from the ground up, starting with the school's first basketball team in 2012 and expanding it to include 21 interscholastic programs across elementary, middle, and high school levels.
His leadership emphasizes integrating athletics with academics, focusing on the "whole child" through skill progression, confidence-building, and a sense of belonging.
Encouraging students to be scholar-athletes, who excel in both academics and sports—is crucial for fostering well-rounded development, as exemplified by DeSimone's philosophy at CSEE that "academics and athletics go hand in hand".
This balance cultivates essential life skills like discipline, time management, resilience, and leadership, which translate to better academic performance, higher graduation rates, and improved mental health through physical activity and goal-setting.
Programs like CSEE's neuromuscular training and positive coaching not only reduce injury risks but also teach responsibility and teamwork, preparing students for real-world challenges.
Scholar-athletes often benefit from enhanced opportunities, such as college scholarships and networking, while schools see boosts in student engagement, attendance, and community pride.
Ultimately, prioritizing this dual path helps create healthier, more motivated individuals who contribute positively to society beyond the classroom or field.
Other recent initiatives from DeSimone include a new elementary basketball program and weekend soccer clinics that serve as a developmental pipeline for older teams.
Looking ahead, he plans to add track and field teams and junior varsity options for freshmen and sophomores in 2024 to accommodate growing interest, where tryouts can draw 50-60 students per sport.
A key aspect of DeSimone's approach is prioritizing athlete safety and injury prevention. Partnering with the Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS), he implemented a neuromuscular warmup routine — a 10-exercise sequence done in under 10 minutes before practices — to strengthen key muscles and teach proper movement techniques.
This program, rolled out starting with boys' basketball and expanded through coach training workshops, has led to a 35% reduction in knee and ankle sprains and zero ACL injuries since 2018 (compared to three prior).
It includes ongoing data tracking, incentives for adherence, and the "Three I's" framework (Instruct, Identify, Intervene) for coaches. The school also conducts proactive risk screenings to further minimize injuries.
DeSimone's efforts have earned recognition, including being named a Certified Master Athletic Administrator by the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association in 2023 for his professional development and contributions to interscholastic sports.
Under his guidance, several CSEE alumni have advanced to NCAA-level college sports, such as Tyler Roche, a junior pitcher at St. John's University poised for the MLB draft.
Other milestones include:
Winning the 2024 High School Varsity New York State championship in girls' volleyball. Capturing league titles in flag football and other sports.
All while Maintaining a 4.0 collective GPA among the varsity volleyball team while balancing rigorous athletic commitments.
DeSimone built CSEE's athletics program from the ground up, starting with the school's first basketball team in 2012 and expanding it to include 21 interscholastic programs across elementary, middle, and high school levels.
His leadership emphasizes integrating athletics with academics, focusing on the "whole child" through skill progression, confidence-building, and a sense of belonging.
Encouraging students to be scholar-athletes, who excel in both academics and sports—is crucial for fostering well-rounded development, as exemplified by DeSimone's philosophy at CSEE that "academics and athletics go hand in hand".
This balance cultivates essential life skills like discipline, time management, resilience, and leadership, which translate to better academic performance, higher graduation rates, and improved mental health through physical activity and goal-setting.
Programs like CSEE's neuromuscular training and positive coaching not only reduce injury risks but also teach responsibility and teamwork, preparing students for real-world challenges.
Scholar-athletes often benefit from enhanced opportunities, such as college scholarships and networking, while schools see boosts in student engagement, attendance, and community pride.
Ultimately, prioritizing this dual path helps create healthier, more motivated individuals who contribute positively to society beyond the classroom or field.
Other recent initiatives from DeSimone include a new elementary basketball program and weekend soccer clinics that serve as a developmental pipeline for older teams.
Looking ahead, he plans to add track and field teams and junior varsity options for freshmen and sophomores in 2024 to accommodate growing interest, where tryouts can draw 50-60 students per sport.
A key aspect of DeSimone's approach is prioritizing athlete safety and injury prevention. Partnering with the Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS), he implemented a neuromuscular warmup routine — a 10-exercise sequence done in under 10 minutes before practices — to strengthen key muscles and teach proper movement techniques.
This program, rolled out starting with boys' basketball and expanded through coach training workshops, has led to a 35% reduction in knee and ankle sprains and zero ACL injuries since 2018 (compared to three prior).
It includes ongoing data tracking, incentives for adherence, and the "Three I's" framework (Instruct, Identify, Intervene) for coaches. The school also conducts proactive risk screenings to further minimize injuries.
DeSimone's efforts have earned recognition, including being named a Certified Master Athletic Administrator by the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association in 2023 for his professional development and contributions to interscholastic sports.
Under his guidance, several CSEE alumni have advanced to NCAA-level college sports, such as Tyler Roche, a junior pitcher at St. John's University poised for the MLB draft.
Other milestones include:
Winning the 2024 High School Varsity New York State championship in girls' volleyball. Capturing league titles in flag football and other sports.
All while Maintaining a 4.0 collective GPA among the varsity volleyball team while balancing rigorous athletic commitments.
