About us

Go Up Strong was founded by Kyle Fagan in 2016 out of Monroe Sports Center.  What began with a small handful of players and teams has grown to a program of over 120 teams per year and a staff of 8 skilled coaches . There are currently over 400 players that call Go Up Strong home. There are multiple teams, of varying skill levels, within each age group. With spring, summer, winter and fall leagues...the learning, games and fun never stop. 

Our goal when it all began is the same to this very day - teach kids the right way to play basketball, work harder than you did the day before, and have fun while you are getting it done.  Each coach in the program will always instill the notion of true teamwork in each of their players. At Go Up Strong, team mentality is vitally important and the key to developing players both on and off the court.  Coach Kyle and his coaching staff work hard to make each player better individually in ways that bring out the best in the entire team.

Team Success

As a program, Go Up Strong has won over 100 MJBL Championships (Monroe Sports Center League). We have had great success and championships in tournaments as well, including those at MSC and other facilities such as Hoop Group, Iron Peak and Sportika. Go Up Strong has had numerous players secure spots on their Varsity teams and have provided them the fundamentals to achieve success at the high school level.

"The goal is to be able to truly connect to each and every player and use that connection to bring out the best in them…on and off the court."

— Kyle Fagan

Our Team

  • Kyle Fagan

    Kyle Fagan

    Owner / Coach

    - Founded Go Up Strong in 2016

    - Coached over 100 teams

    -Won multiple MJBL Championships

    -Has produced multiple AAU Tournament Championship Teams

    - 4 year varsity basketball player, 3 year varsity football player, 2 year varsity baseball player at Monmouth Regional.

    - Basketball state sectional champs 2007

    - 10 years coaching experience

  • Ricky Stephens

    Ricky Stephens

    Coach

    - Varsity basketball player at Monmouth Regional

    - Brookdale 2 year starter - National Championship team 2010

    - Starting Shooting guard at Rutgers Newark

    - Wealth of basketball knowledge and experience

    - Certified personal trainer

    - 5 years coaching experience

  • Marcus Stephens

    Coach

    - 2 year varsity starter at Monmouth Regional

    - 3 years experience as a Basketball trainer/coach

  • Zach Moran

    -McDaniel College Athlete

    -St. John Vianney High School Athlete

    -4 years coaching experience

  • Tavion Alford

    -Assistant Coach at East Brunswick Magnet High School

    -Played at Mercer County College and Rutgers Camden

  • Haley Pitlak

    -Played Varsity basketball at Jackson High School

    -5 years coaching experience

  • Joey Paladino

    -Played Varsity basketball at Marlboro High School

    -Played at Ocean Community College