Our Coaches and Trainers

Coach Abi Davids is a former collegiate basketball and soccer player at New England College and The College of St Rose. He also played semi-professional basketball in the UK. Coach Abi has coached basketball in England, France and the Czech Republic. He coached at the College level for 3 years in England before starting his own training 

Coach Abi Davids is a former collegiate basketball and soccer player at New England College and The College of St Rose. He also played semi-professional basketball in the UK. Coach Abi has coached basketball in England, France and the Czech Republic. He coached at the College level for 3 years in England before starting his own training program (Nexstep Basketball). Nexstep Basketball provided players year round basketball training and a chance to visit prep schools and colleges in the US to play for a chance to attend those schools on an athletic scholarship. Nexstep Basketball brought Coach Abi to Maine where he has been the Thunder Basketball Director and Trainer for 10 years and the Maine Firecrackers Director and Trainer for 4 years.

Coach Abi has a wealth of knowledge about how to help players improve both physically and mentally in the game. He mixes biomechanics, fundamental skills and creative problem solving within his training sessions to build the full player. 

He has worked with and continues to work with JP Estrella, Tennessee and Mackenzie Holmes, Seattle Storm. 

Coach Abi believes the journey and the process should be the focus. The destination is a bi product of the work. 

Like all of the trainers in our program, he is also of the belief that we must develop the HUMAN alongside the HOOPER!

Ed Silva earned his bachelor's degree in sociology from Eastern Connecticut State University in 1997, where he was an all-conference basketball player and participated in the 1996 New England Senior All-Star Game. He completed his master's degree in social work from the University of Connecticut in 2002. Silva and his wife, Cecily, live 

Ed Silva earned his bachelor's degree in sociology from Eastern Connecticut State University in 1997, where he was an all-conference basketball player and participated in the 1996 New England Senior All-Star Game. He completed his master's degree in social work from the University of Connecticut in 2002. Silva and his wife, Cecily, live in Biddeford with their three children.

Silva has been the head coach of the UNE men's basketball program for nine seasons, leading the Nor'easters to five Commonwealth Coast Conference postseason tournament appearances, including back-to-back semifinal rounds in 2014-15 and 2015-16. Prior to UNE, he spent 11 successful seasons at Elms College, compiling a 206-103 record and capturing seven consecutive New England Collegiate Conference titles from 2005-2011, which led to six NCAA Championship appearances.

Beyond collegiate coaching, Silva has been a coach with the Firecrackers organization for over 10 years and is regarded as one of the most respected voices in Maine basketball. His integrity and passion for the game are unmatched, making him a influential figure in developing young talent throughout the region. Silva currently serves a second three-year term on the NCAA Regional Advisory Committee for the Division III Northeast region.

John Morgan is a former collegiate standout turned dedicated basketball trainer and coach. A Maine native, John played college basketball at Southern Maine Community College and Thomas College, scoring over 1,200 career points. During his collegiate career, he earned All-American honors, player of the year honors, multiple All-Conference

John Morgan is a former collegiate standout turned dedicated basketball trainer and coach. A Maine native, John played college basketball at Southern Maine Community College and Thomas College, scoring over 1,200 career points. During his collegiate career, he earned All-American honors, player of the year honors, multiple All-Conference selections, and was inducted into the SMCC Athletics Hall of Fame in 2024 — a testament to his impact on and off the court.

Since 2017, John has been training athletes of all ages — from kindergartners just picking up the game, to high school and college players preparing for the next level. His training philosophy goes beyond individual skill development: it’s about building complete players with strong fundamentals, high basketball IQ, and the ability to read the game in real-time and apply what they’ve learned in competitive situations.

Whether you’re looking to sharpen your shooting, improve your ball handling, or elevate your overall game awareness, John’s training will challenge you to grow and push past your limits. As he always says: “Nothing works without work.”

In the right environment, with the right mindset and consistent effort, improvement isn’t just possible — it’s inevitable.

"Dak" is a former college basketball player at the University of Southern Maine. He brings both firsthand playing experience and years of coaching expertise to every training session. He currently serves as the Assistant Coach at the University of Southern Maine and is the Director of Next Level Athletics, where his mission is to help pl

"Dak" is a former college basketball player at the University of Southern Maine. He brings both firsthand playing experience and years of coaching expertise to every training session. He currently serves as the Assistant Coach at the University of Southern Maine and is the Director of Next Level Athletics, where his mission is to help players maximize their potential—whether they’re picking up a basketball for the first time or preparing for Division 1 level.

Since 2021, he has trained athletes across all ages and skill levels, tailoring each workout to meet their unique needs and goals. His specialties include shooting mechanics, ball handling, and finishing at the rim, with a focus on building strong fundamentals and game-ready confidence.

His approach blends proven skill development techniques with the mindset and work ethic required to succeed at the next level—because great players aren’t just born, they’re built.