Who We are
Meet your basketball Coach
I am proud to be the owner and founder of 4VLegacy, a basketball training and coaching service that provides top-notch instruction to players of all levels. With over 20 years of coaching and training experience, I help players focus on developing fundementals to improve their skills and confidence on the court! In addition to my role at 4VLegacy, I serve as an Assistant Men's Basketball Coach at Simpson College in Indianola, Iowa, where I am able to share my wealth of knowledge and experience.
My coaching journey has been truly fulfilling and I am grateful for the opportunity to have led two different boy's club teams, serve as an assistant girls high school coach at Valley High School, and at Iowa Christian Academy and Perry Community Schools as a high school head coach. My passion for basketball runs deep and I am excited to continue to make a positive impact on the sport.
Linn-Mar Community School is where I played high school ball and then all 4 years in college at Buena Vista University in Storm Lake, Iowa. As team captain at BV during my senior year, I recorded 133 assists for the year. This currently sits number 7 all-time in school history. Playing at the college level has provided a much deeper understanding of teaching and guiding players to reach their highest potential.
Denny McDonnell
Trained, Experienced, and Certified
I’ve played at the collegiate level, coached at top high school programs, and trained athletes of all ages and backgrounds — many of whom have gone on to have successful college basketball careers. I hold a Master’s in Education and am a USA Basketball Certified Trainer, bringing both coaching expertise and an educator’s perspective to player development.
My passion is helping players become the best basketball versions of themselves. I focus on building game-ready skills through purposeful repetition, positive reinforcement, and detailed instruction. By breaking down each concept into “micro-skills,” players gain a clearer understanding and natural progression in how to shoot, dribble, pass, and defend effectively.
I also attend games and review film to evaluate how training translates to live competition — ensuring every athlete continues to grow and perform at their highest level.
USA Basketball Certified
You can trust that your basketball development is in the hands of a coach who genuinely loves the game and brings deep knowledge across all aspects of player development. With a USA Basketball Certified Coach, you’ll receive top-quality instruction from someone dedicated to helping every athlete reach their full potential on the court.
USA Basketball certification is a key credential that signifies a coach’s commitment to excellence. It demonstrates advanced expertise, proven training methods, and a professional standard that ensures every player receives the highest level of development and guidance.
Master’s in Education
With a Master’s in Education, this program is built on proven teaching principles that enhance communication, skill progression, and player understanding. That educational foundation allows for a structured approach to coaching — breaking down complex basketball concepts into clear, teachable steps that help every athlete learn and perform at a higher level.
Assistant Men’s Basketball Coach at Simpson College
Denny’s experience as an Assistant Men’s Basketball Coach at Simpson College fuels his approach at 4VLegacy Coaching and Training. He knows what it takes to compete at the next level and builds that mindset into every workout — pushing players to train with purpose, play with confidence, and lead with character.
MEET THE TRAINERS
Meredith Rieker is a graduate of Missouri Western State University (MoWest), where she played four years of Division II basketball -- winning an MIAA Conference Championship her sophomore season and making three NCAA Tournament appearances. Her experience as a collegiate athlete instilled the discipline, resilience, and competitive mindset that continue to influence her both personally and professionally.
Meredith lives in Lee Summit, Missouri, and works in orthopedic device sales. Her athletic background helped strengthen her communication skills, consistency, work ethic, and ability to build meaningful relationships. As a camp coach, she is excited to share her passion for basketball and help athletes develop confidence, skills, and character.
MEREDITH RIEKER
PAige Hilgerson
Paige Hilgerson has loved basketball since first picking up the game in kindergarten. She played year-round club basketball with Starz before becoming a varsity point guard at Des Moines Christian School. During high school, she was part of conference and regional championship teams while helping lead her team to back-to-back Class 3A state tournament appearances, finishing as quarterfinalists and semifinalists.
Paige is currently attending University of Iowa, where she studies Human Physiology, Business Leadership, and Event Management. Throughout high school, she trained with Coach Denny McDonnell at 4VLegacy and now enjoys the opportunity to give back to the game through coaching. She also enjoys working basketball camps during college breaks and staying involved in basketball as both a coach and fan of the Iowa Hawkeyes and Indiana Fever.
Ben Hoover began playing basketball in fourth grade and continued competing throughout middle school and high school. His game began to elevate after training with Coach Denny McDonnell following his sophomore season. Through that experience, Ben developed not only basketball skills, but also confidence, character, and important life lessons. After suffering a broken ankle during spring basketball his junior year, returning to train with Coach Denny was one of the first things he did once cleared to play again.
Although he did not continue basketball at the collegiate level, Ben has remained involved through intramural competition and coaching opportunities. Helping with Coach Denny’s youth camps has strengthened his passion for coaching, and he hopes to earn his coaching certification in the future to continue mentoring young athletes both on and off the court.
BEn Hoover
LYDIA SMITH
Lydia Smith is currently a sophomore at Central College, where she is a member of the women’s basketball team while studying to become an occupational therapist. She graduated from Waukee High School in 2024 after competing in both basketball and track and field.
This summer, Lydia will coach a 15U team and is passionate about helping young athletes develop their skills and confidence through basketball. She loves supporting youth development both on and off the court and is excited to be part of the 4VL team.
RYan Thammathay
Ryan Thammathay is a basketball coach and trainer based in the Des Moines area with experience working with athletes from the youth level through college basketball. He has coached at multiple programs, including Des Moines North High School, Saydel High School, Ankeny High School, and currently with Next Level Performance.
As a former player, basketball has always been a major part of his life, and he is passionate about helping the next generation grow both on and off the court. His coaching philosophy emphasizes energy, effort, execution, and emotion while building confidence and strong relationships with players and families. Ryan takes pride in creating a positive environment where athletes can develop their skills, strengthen their character, and truly enjoy the game.
Basketball Training Safety
Safe Environment - The USA Basketball certification program places a high priority on player safety by providing training in injury prevention, emergency response, and concussion care. This guarantees that instructors are well-equipped to provide a safe environment for learning and play for their players.
Background Checks - USA Basketball-certified coaches go through a background check in addition to safety training. This helps foster the development of a safer and more encouraging learning environment by preventing those with a previous record of inappropriate behavior from educating young basketball players.
Accreditation - Safety is given top consideration by the USA Basketball accreditation program. You can be sure that safety is a top priority and that your young athlete is learning and playing in a secure environment by selecting a USA Basketball-certified coach.
Our Impact