Coach Jesse Winter started his basketball career at South Side High School where he was a 2-year captain and a standout player. He was inducted into the program’s Hall of Fame for his achievements of being All-Long Island and leading the team to the Nassau County Championship Games. After high school, Jesse played at SUNY Cortland where he was a 2-year Captain. For the Red Dragons, he graduated as the All-Time Leading Career Scorer record in the school’s history scoring 1,525 points, was 2nd All-Time in assists and a 2-time All American that helped lead the team to a SUNYAC Championship that advanced to the 2nd Round of the NCAA Tournament. After College, Jesse played 1 season of professional basketball in Israel in the National League for Ramat Hasharon. Jesse is currently a FIBA Certified basketball trainer. He was the Basketball Director at Camps such as Camp Wayne, Coalman Country and the Junior Knicks Virtual Summer Basketball Camp. In 2021, he coached our 5th Grade Team to an AAU D2 National Championship in Orlando, Florida. In 2024, he coached our 7th Grade Team a Nike – Balling On The Beach National Championship in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Recently Winter was named to the 2025 125 Most Influential Grassroot Directors in the east by Sliver Waves Media. He was also named the AAU Boys' Basketball Advisory Committee Chair nationally and internationally. While continuing in his role with Level Up he leads this advisory committee of key basketball stakeholders who have extensive knowledge of basketball operations to aid in the growth and development of AAU Basketball Programs. AAU President Joe Mirza, who formed the committee, is who Jesse will be reporting to along with Jim Fox who is an AAU Board member and special Advisor to President Mirza. The announcement read as follows: 

“Winter has an extensive basketball pedigree having been named to both his high school and college Hall of Fames. While attending SUNY Cortland, he became that college's All-Time leading scorer, a record that was held for more than 10 years. Eight years ago, Winter founded Level Up, an AAU program that has grown to sixty (60) boys' and girls' teams ranging from 2nd through 12th grades. All skill levels are represented at Level Up, providing participation opportunities for athletes from beginner to elite abilities."There is virtually no one who has more knowledge about what is going on in Boys' club basketball right now than Jesse Winter," said Jim Fox, AAU Board member and Special Advisor to the President for AAU Basketball. "We are excited to welcome Jesse Winter to the new advisory committee. Mr. Winter is dedicated to the growth of AAU Basketball and will be a great asset to our organization."