Hello everyone!

My name is Leo Gutierrez and I’m very honored to have been selected as an assistant coach for the USA Deaf Basketball Men’s Team (Deaflympic team). The Deaflympics will be held in Tokyo, Japan this November 2025! My goal is to bring the gold medals home to the USA — the last time our team won gold was in 2009, which was 16 years ago. I am determined to make history again and bring that victory and pride back where it belongs.

Now, I want to share a little about my journey. The last time I played for the USA Deaf Basketball Men’s Team was in 1996 at the Pan American Games (PanAm). I also had the honor of being a two-time alternate player (was on the development team), but due to a knee injury, I never had the chance to make it onto the Deaflympics USA Basketball Men’s Team.

After my knee injury, I made a pivotal decision that changed my life — I shifted my focus to coaching. I started as an assistant coach at New Mexico School for the Deaf, where I built my winning culture and coaching resume. This experience led me to Northern New Mexico College, an NAIA Division 2 program (similar to NCAA Division 1/2).

Coach Jamel Sekoe White then asked me to be part of the USA Deaf PanAm Basketball Men’s Team. We built the program in a very short time, and in 2022, we secured a bronze medal in Argentina. That success boosted our confidence, deepened our knowledge of FIBA rules, and expanded our network with coaches from other countries.

We worked tirelessly to recruit the top 12 players to qualify for the USA Deaf U21 Basketball Men’s Team, and in 2024, we proudly brought home the gold medal!

This journey is about more than just winning; it’s about making history and inspiring our community. Your support — no matter the size — will directly impact our ability to compete at the highest level, travel safely, and bring that medal home. Every dollar counts and helps us get closer to making this historic moment happen.

I’m working towards raising $6,700 — and your donation is greatly appreciated— For payment platforms—just text me for safe purposes! Your generosity can turn my BIG dream into reality.

Please consider supporting me! Your donation is not just a contribution; it’s a part of history in the making. Together, we can achieve greatness.

And if you’re able, please share this message to help us reach more supporters.

Thank you so much for your support — Go USA!