Overtime Athletics is excited to announce our 13th Franchisee that has secured Long Island NY, Melba Chambers. Melba was born and raised in Baltimore, MD. At the tender age of 8, she was introduced to basketball and immediately fell in love. Over the years, she honed her skills and was rewarded with a basketball scholarship to St. Frances Academy, one of the oldest Catholic High Schools in the country. St. Frances Academy was her grandmother’s alma mater, where she played on the girls’ team in 1939. Melba was a 4-year starter and scored over 1000 points in her career. Her success at St. Frances Academy sent numerous college recruiters her way. Ultimately, she decided to stay close to home by accepting a scholarship to Georgetown University. She excelled at Georgetown on and off the court, earning a Bachelor’s of Arts degree in Women’s Studies and Psychology.
After graduating from Georgetown, she decided to further her basketball career by playing professionally in Germany. She returned from Germany a year later, deciding to switch gears with her career by joining the Baltimore City Police Department. Melba served for 7 years until a line of duty injury prematurely ended her career. She decided to refocus on basketball by coaching at her alma mater, St. Frances Academy. Her passion for coaching grew and she moved up to the college level in 2011, accepting an assistant coaching position at Bowie State University. After leaving Bowie State, Melba coached at College of Charleston and finally at her alma mater, Georgetown University.
Melba was first introduced to OTA in the summer of 2018. She held the position of Program Director for Overtime Athletics Summer Camp in Norwalk, CT.
Melba moved to Connecticut after marrying her wife Billi, who is also from Maryland. Billi graduated from Hofstra University and is currently the head women’s basketball coach at Iona College in New Rochelle, NY.
Melba and Billi are very excited about expanding their relationship with the OTA family.
