Founder, President and Head Coach
Brian S. Kriftcher
Following a successful 18-year Wall Street career, Brian Kriftcher (Coach "K”) retired from the business world at the age of 40 in order to devote his full-time energies to his passions for coaching, teaching and philanthropic work.
Coach "K" is the Founder, President and Head Coach of Stamford Peace Basketball Club. Currently he is the Head Coach of the girls' Varsity basketball team at Westhill High School, in Stamford, CT. Previously, he was the Head Coach of the boys’ Varsity basketball team at St. Luke's School, a secular college-preparatory independent school in New Canaan, CT, where he won the coveted Fairchester Athletic Association tournament Championship in 2010 – 2011. Before that he was head coach of the boys’ Freshman basketball team and assistant coach boys’ Varsity and Junior Varsity basketball teams at Westhill High School in Stamford, CT.
Coach "K" has been a lifelong student and teacher of the game, and has successfully coached both boys’ and girls’ teams representing Stamford in the JCC Maccabi Games in Orange County (CA), Westchester County (NY), and Connecticut, as well as many other teams in many other events. Coach "K" has worked at such distinguished basketball camps, and under such well-known coaches, as the Bob Hurley Basketball Camp, Coach K Academy/Duke Basketball Camp, and Point Guard College. He is also a frequent basketball clinician/instructor and 1-on-1 trainer.
As a player, Coach K earned a Silver Medal representing the U.S.A. as a member of its Masters (35+ years old) basketball team in the World Maccabiah Games in Israel in 2009. Previously, he earned a Gold Medal in the Pan American Maccabiah Games in Buenos Aires, Argentina in 2007.
Coach "K" earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from the State University of New York at Albany, where he was member of the men’s intercollegiate basketball team for two seasons. He earned a law degree from St. John’s University Law School, which he attended at night; and remains licensed to practice law in New York State.
Coach "K" is the Global Chairman of the Board of Directors of PeacePlayers International; a not-for-profit organization that uses the game of basketball to bridge divides between young people in conflict areas throughout the world. He also serves on the Board of Directors of the Intercontinental Jewish Community Centers Association. From 2009 – 2012, he was president of the Stamford JCC. Coach "K" has been a Stamford resident since 1996, where he lives with his wife, Jeannie, and three daughters, Hannah, Charlotte and Sophie
Co-Founder and Director of Basketball Operations
Lenwood Latta
Lenwood Latta (Coach Latta) has devoted nearly his entire professional life to educating inner-city youth. Coach Latta is a Co-Founderand Director of Basketball Operations of Stamford Peace. Until recently, Coach Latta was the assistant coach of the boys’ Varsity basketball team at St. Luke's School. Previously, he was head coach of the boys’ Junior Varsity basketball team and assistant coach of the boys’ Varsity basketball team at Westhill High School in Stamford, CT. For many years, Coach Latta coached boys’ basketball within Stamford Youth Basketball League and the Mighty Mites Basketball League.
Coach Latta relocated to Stamford, Connecticut following his graduation from college, and for the past two decades has worked for the Stamford Board of Education in various capacities. Until joining Stamford Peace on a full-time basis last year, Coach Latta taught within an alternative incarceration program for troubled youth.
Coach Latta began his career in the human services sector, where he managed regional programs in Stamford, Bridgeport, and Waterbury, Connecticut. In this capacity, he served a pivotal role in helping to prepare clients to re-enter the work force, developing a temporary placement agency, and opening an on-site day care center. He was also instrumental in implementing Stamford’s L.E.A.D. Program, a leadership enrichment program focused on local at-risk youth. Coach Latta has held positions on various Boards and task forces over the years, including the Mayor’s Youth Advisory Committee and the CTE Board of Directors.
He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Education from Shaw University in Raleigh, North Carolina. He is presently Chairman of the Deacon’s Ministry at the Greater Faith Tabernacle Baptist Church in Stamford.
Coach Latta has been a Stamford resident since 1992, where he lives with his wife, Felicia, and their two children, Jalen (a point guard on the St. Luke's Varsity boys' basketball team) and Jordan.