Coaching Staff
We believe that our administrative staff works extremely hard behind the scenes to make sure all the operations within Kansas United run smoothly. They contact sponsors, work with parents, & schedule tournaments, among many other duties. Their job is always to represent Kansas United with a great attitude and full effort. They live out our program’s mission and vision in everything they do. Without them our program wouldn’t be the same!
Benny Molle
Admin: Director of Player Development
Teams: 15u, 14u, 5th grade Blue, 4th grade, 3rd grade, 2nd grade
Bio: Coach Benny was born and raised in Kansas City, MO. Benny has been coaching for six years. He played basketball from pre-K to the summer of 8th grade. His playing days came to an end when he was diagnosed with a rare heart condition. He loves being able to motivate & mentor kids. He currently works in an autism-specialized program at a local middle school. He has been a proud program manager for the Boys & Girls Club, a paraprofessional and a substitute teacher in the city of Lawrence.
Why He Coaches: “I love to be a positive role model for the youth in our community. Coaching is my sanctuary but I want players to understand that this game we love, could be used as a platform for so many positive things in their lives and in their communities!”
Preston Hoobler
Admin: Director of Team Operations
Coach: 2nd Grade
Bio: Preston Hoobler is a former Wide Receiver at the University of Baker & proud University of Kansas Alumnus. Coach Hoobler has been with Kansas United since the program’s inception & also serves as Kansas United’s Director of Team Operations & Coaching Management.
After graduating in 2008 Coach Hoobler immediately began coaching all youth sports from youth Basketball, T-ball, to Jr. High Football. During his 10years+ years of developing kids of all different skill levels across the 3 major sports, Coach Hoobler has been constant & patient with regards to instilling & developing a consistent fundamentals first, goal setting, team work is a must, always compete, & have fun approach. These foundational characteristics & principles have yielded his teams an average winning percentage of 85%.
Coach Hoobler is passionate about seeing your child & the young people that he coaches applying the adversities of sport to real life applications, thus helping to develop each one of his players into truly great Student-Athletes.
Coach Hoobler is very competitive, structured, & honest which is why he has an “Open Door” policy so please feel free to reach out to him for any of your questions, coaching concerns, &/or basic notifications!
Why He Coaches: “Jeff Hawkins has built a very positive, family oriented, & special character building Basketball program here in Lawrence. I could not be more honored to help grow this organization into the National Power that it will become”
Mehdi Honarvar
Admin
Team: 5th Grade Blue
Bio: Coach Mehdi grew up in California and in 2014, with his wife Dawn, decided to make the move to Lawrence. Including their son Chase, the Honarvar’s all love Lawrence and the people here. It has been a blessing. Mehdi owns a technology company called M Cubed Technologies with offices in California and, since 2014, one in Lawrence. Growing up, Mehdi always loved playing sports especially basketball. His career was limited to the fact that he only had a 4-inch vertical but that didn’t stop him from enjoying the sport he loved. Chase has been a part of Kansas United since 2015 and through this incredible organization, Mehdi and Dawn have seen him grow up so much. They believe in what United is about and so does Chase.
Why I Coach: “One of the main reasons why I love coaching is because I truly believe that as adults we have such incredible influences on these kids. With a compassionate push on the court I feel that I might be able to help them better themselves on and off the court.”