Mo’Motion founder Maureen Holohan with one of her basketball teams, The Twisters. Photos courtesy Mo’Motion.
In the world of basketball, we’ve now entered the season of March Madness. Maureen ‘Mo’ Holohan is the founder of Mo’Motion. Established in 2009, it’s the only non-profit basketball training program that is both female run, and, trains both boys and girls-together. She is currently overseeing playoffs for 55 teams (ages ranging from first to eighth grade-Mo’Motion runs and pays for teams that need financial support) , alternating between practice locations near South Street Seaport at Pier 31, as well as the Upper West Side, and Harlem.
Holohan, who grew up in a large Irish Catholic family in Troy, New York, loved playing basketball with her male siblings and cousin Pete, who treated her on the court as their equal. This motivated her to want to continue to play, though not necessarily as a profession. Pete Holohan, while he loved basketball and supported Maureen’s passion, went on to play college football as a tight end for Notre Dame and later played for 12 years in the NFL with the San Diego Chargers.
Maureen’s cousin, Pete Holohan, who played college football with Notre Dame and was in the NFL for 12 years with the San Diego Chargers..
“I wanted to be like Pete, fighting Irish; I wanted to bring pride to the family. My dad was one of 10, his dad came to only one game.” Holohan’s dad though, would go to all the games, “pile all of us in a car. So between my dad never saying no, he was expecting me to be my best.” And she was. Maureen became the “first generation female in my family to get a full basketball scholarship to Northwestern University.” She is a three-time All-Big 10 Player.
Maureen O’Holohan, founder, Mo’Motion
Mo’Motion was conceived at a difficult time in Ms. Holohan’s life. After college, Holohan sought a career in teaching English and writing, that, while gratifying, didn’t always come easy, or bring in steadfast income. Holohan had won a Randolph Hearst Journalism Award for Feature Writing. But some time later, her mother became ill with Alzheimer’s, and she devoted time caring for her, while trying to balance work.
In 2009, a group of boys in NYC had asked Holohan to coach them in basketball. She agreed on one condition: they had to keep it local, no road trips to Long Island or New Jersey. She knew that the toughest competitions were only blocks away in every direction in Manhattan. Holohan sought a local network of teams and play on the Upper East Side, Upper West Side, and in Harlem. While letting the kids know there’s a chance they may lose a few games, she added, “But this is how you get better and you don’t have to go to Long Island or New Jersey to do it.” Holohan then created Mo’Motion, and more local kids signed up. More girls took to training with boys. “Girls who are good listeners, pick up the skills; they’re not trying to one up each other, they make each other better, that’s what you want, after puberty.” Mo’Motion has a 60% boys’ enrollment. Kids can sign up for pre season, winter season, summer season, and camps.
2024 Mo’Motion girls’ teams Aces and Cheetahs.
“I’ll never forget hearing my boss at one of my first jobs in youth basketball say to me, “You know what your problem is — you are overqualified and you care too much.” Within two years, my one team of seventh-grade boys turned into 24 teams. Manhattan’s parents recognized my academic and athletic pedigree and respected my passion for teaching all of the kids, not just the stronger kids. Our slogan is ‘EARN IT’ because that’s what I had to do for all of my life. The parents of our players know there is no basketball babysitting on my watch. They appreciate my drive and how much I believe in their kids.
“We really believe keeping sports local and holistic, [promote] positive association, play more than one sport; they’ll stay off their [phone] screens; [sports offers] preventive mind health, eighth grade refer players out if can play at the next level.”
Holohan saw potential in another Northwestern alum, Pallas Kunaiya-Akpanah from Nigeria, then a senior that wanted to play WNBA. Holohan suggested she train for the Olympics, which she has now participated in, twice. Holohan has also privately trained many other high school and college students.
Registration is now open for Mo’Motion’s Spring 2025 programs. For more information, visit momotion.org.