Psalm 100:4a - Enter His gates with thanksgiving, and His courts with praise!

Photo Name Position Bio

Debbie Nieter

Executive Administrator Debbie does most of our administration including: scheduling, fundraising and other coordination.

Tony Facione

Teamsnap Coordinator Tony Facione was born in Detroit, MI, grew up in Livonia and now lives in South Lyon, with his wife Erin (married in 1998), and their 7 Children. Coach Facione became a follower of Christ in 1998 and has served the Lord as a member of NorthRidge Church in Plymouth where he and his family have attended as members since 2000. He enjoys leading a “Raising a Modern Day Knight“ father & son group and has served on leadership for Bible Study Fellowship, several different roles of leadership at NorthRidge, and at a Bible Camp for kids in the past. Coach Facione grew up playing football, hockey, baseball and basketball. In high school at Livonia Franklin, he played varsity football, varsity basketball and varsity track. Coach Facione attended Wayne State University where he played football for the Tartars on a scholarship and graduated with a BS in Chemical Engineering. Coach Facione has coached over a dozen youth baseball teams, several youth football teams and has coached for the Firebirds since 2014. Coach Facione believes that excellence honors God and inspires people. He hopes to inspire and encourage all of the players he interacts with to: honor their parents/coaches/referees/authority figures, respect their siblings and team-mates, become a valuable citizen of this great country, grow into the man/woman of God they were designed to be .. and last but not least have fun doing it!

Jim Wolf

Basketball Coordinator Jim was born in Waukegan, IL (near Chicago) and has moved 11 times, including Illinois (three times), Kansas, Georgia, New York, Ohio (twice), North Carolina, South Carolina, and Michigan.  He and his wife and 7 kids currently reside in Novi, MI.  Coach Wolf went to high school at St. Joseph\'s Collegiate Institute in Buffalo, NY, where he played Varsity Basketball all 4 years.  During that time, his teams won 3 NY State Class B Catholic State Championships, and finished Runner-up for the Overall State Championship twice.  He obtained a degree in Electrical Engineering at the University of Dayton, where he met his wife, Debi. Since 2008, he has coached various levels of youth sports.  Coach Wolf believes the game of basketball teaches many life lessons that will benefit the Firebird players their entire lives, including work ethic, how to be a good teammate, sportsmanship, and winning/losing with dignity.  5 of his 7 children are Firebirds, and he greatly enjoys coaching and participating in their overall basketball experience.

Mark Brandel

Volleyball Coordinator Mark was born of missionary parents in Detroit, Michigan. Although spending his early years in Africa, by high school, he started playing and coaching baseball, basketball, football, soccer, softball and volleyball. He has been involved with sports since 1973, and made his high school coaching debut with Plymouth Christian Academy and their volleyball team in 1982. In 1989, Coach Brandel took over the responsibilities of Sports Academy at Plymouth Christian and was the Director of Sports Academy where young athletes from age 6 to high school are developed. Coach has run camps, clinics and teams in the sport of volleyball each year since the 1990s.

Jeff Arenz

Sports Academy Coordinator Jeff was born in Milwaukee, WI but grew up in Novi, Michigan. He currently resides in Whitmore Lake, Michigan with his wife Kelly and eight children. Coach Arenz played high school basketball at Northville High School and played one year of basketball at Kalamazoo College where he received an undergraduate degree in Business with a minor in Religion. Prior to having kids he coached both middle school and high school basketball in Fowlerville, MI. In addition to coaching the B10 Firebirds, coach Arenz coordinates the Sports Academy coaching for basketball, baseball, football and soccer as well. Coach Arenz enjoys not only teaching the young Firebirds the game of basketball, but also hopes to instill life lessons, including how to serve the Lord on the basketball court.