MassBay Names Kelly Graska and Richie Haskell Co-Head Coaches of Unified Sports Program

MassBay Community College has named Richie Haskell (left) and Kelly Graska (right) as co-head coaches of the College’s Unified Sports program. Haskell and Graska pose on the Wellesley Hills campus, Wellesley Hills, MA, September 2026 (Photo / MassBay Community College).

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Liz Cooper
ecooper@massbay.edu 

WELLESLEY HILLS, Mass. (September 17, 2026) — MassBay Community College has named Kelly Graska and Richie Haskell as co-head coaches of the College's Unified Sports program, which brings together students with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities to compete as teammates while fostering inclusion, leadership, and community.

MassBay is the first Massachusetts Community College to have a Unified Sports Program.

Graska and Haskell will lead MassBay's growing Unified Sports program as it prepares for another season of competition in the Special Olympics Yawkey Basketball League. The program provides student-athletes with opportunities to develop skills, build friendships, and experience the benefits of inclusive athletics.

Graska has worked at MassBay for more than 12 years and currently serves as coordinator of the College's Transitional Scholars Program, which supports students with intellectual and developmental disabilities in an inclusive college environment. A former three-sport varsity athlete, she played field hockey at Roanoke College and comes from a family with a strong coaching tradition.

“Unified Sports is about so much more than competition,” said Graska. “It is about creating a team where every athlete feels valued, supported, and truly part of something. I am excited to work with our students and help continue building a program that represents the very best of MassBay.”

Haskell has served at MassBay since 2022 and is the College's executive administrator of student development. He earned a bachelor's degree in education and history from Franklin Pierce University and brings a lifelong passion for athletics to the role.

His connection to Unified Sports is also personal. Haskell's youngest son has participated in numerous Special Olympics events through his local school, giving him firsthand insight into the impact inclusive athletics can have on athletes, families and communities.

“I am excited to continue growing Unified Sports at MassBay and to help our student-athletes reach their goals along the way,” said Haskell. “This program creates opportunities for students to compete, build friendships, develop confidence and be part of a team. I am proud to be part of that experience.”

MassBay Associate Dean of Athletics and Special Assistant to the President Adam Nelson said Graska and Haskell bring the right combination of professional experience, athletic backgrounds, and personal commitment to the program's mission.

“Kelly and Richie bring exactly what we were looking for in the next leaders of our Unified Sports program,” said Nelson. “They both understand the importance of creating an environment where every student has an opportunity to participate, contribute, and succeed. Their professional experience at MassBay, their backgrounds in athletics, and their personal connections to inclusive sports make them an outstanding coaching team. We are excited to see where they take the program next.”

Unified Basketball practices are scheduled to begin in early October as the team prepares for winter competition in the Special Olympics Yawkey Basketball League.

Ranked the #1 community college in Massachusetts and #15 in the nation for Career Outcomes by WalletHub, MassBay Community College is the most affordable higher education option in MetroWest Boston and is free to most Massachusetts residents without a bachelor’s degree. With more than 70 associate degree and certificate programs, along with comprehensive workforce and educational training, MassBay provides a wide range of courses with flexible day, evening, and weekend classes in Wellesley, Framingham, the Automotive Technology Center in Ashland, and online, in high-demand fields including health and life sciences, computer science, engineering, cybersecurity, business, and the humanities. MassBay students receive unparalleled value, with free one-on-one academic and social support services, compassionate and experienced faculty, and stackable credits that easily transfer to bachelor’s degree programs and that provide hands-on, workforce-ready skills. Health sciences, human services, early childhood education, and many general education programs are offered at the 65,000 square foot, state-of-the-art MassBay Framingham, which has served the community since January 2024. Founded in 1961, MassBay has been accredited by multiple governing bodies and remains dedicated to serving its diverse communities, fostering inclusiveness, and advancing equity for all.