Coaching Staff

Head Coach – Najgee Gatson

Asst. Coach – Charlie Criss

Asst. Coach- Steven Oldenburg

Athletic Director/J.V.- Bill Schmitz

Manager- Jimmie Stephens

Name: Najgee Gatson
Teaching position:  P.E. teacher at St. John the Evangelist (partner school)
Coaching Position & Experience:  Head Varsity Boys Basketball Coach; 3 years
Favorite Scripture:  "For we walk by faith, not by sight" (2 Corinthians 5:7)

Najgee Gatson returned to his alma mater in the summer of 2017 after serving 2 years as an assistant coach at an NAIA powerhouse Bellevue University, in Bellevue, Nebraska. Najgee helped the Bruins to back to back national tournament appearances, and a Final Four appearance in 2017. Najgee was responsible for the post player development, and high school recruiting, where he saw 2 of his post players receive All-Conference honors and one All-American Honorable mention award winner.

Before joining the sidelines as a coach, Najgee played collegiately at Spring Hill College in Mobile, AL. After using a redshirt year, Gatson was named to the All-Freshman team in 2012, as well as 2 All-Conference honors during his playing career. Najgee started majority of his career while at Spring Hill, with his best season coming in his redshirt Junior year, where he averaged 14 points per game and 8 rebounds per game. A serious back injury ended his career 7 games into his senior season, where he was 260 points shy of 1000 and 250 178 rebounds shy for 750 for his career. After his injury, he joined the Spring Hill coaching staff as a Student Assistant for the remainder of the 2014-2015 season.

Najgee was a member of the first ever basketball team in OLM history to reach the state tournament in 2008 as a junior. He was able to lead his team back to the state tournament in his senior year, that ended in heartbreaking fashion. Gatson finished his senior season averaging 18 points per game and 11 rebounds per game, and he finished second in Region-Player of the year voting, but was voted to the All-Region team.

“I am extremely excited about being able to come back and lead this program at this school, which means so much to me. I hope to carry on the legacy of my former coach and mentor, Tony Caruso, and lead this program into the right direction. You can expect a hard nose team, that will compete on the court each and every time we play!”

Name: Steve Oldenburg
Teaching position: Science Teacher
Coaching Position & Experience: Assistant Basketball Coach
Favorite Scripture: "Now the people were filled with expectation, and all were asking in their hearts whether John might be the Messiah. John answered them all, saying,“I am baptizing you with water, but one mightier than I is coming. I am not worthy to loosen the thongs of his sandals. He will baptize you with the holy Spirit and fire." (Luke 3:15-16)

Steve Oldenburg is entering his 3rd year as assistant basketball coach at Our Lady of Mercy. Some of his key responsibilities include maintaining team statistics and hosting team study halls and film sessions. Steve is a native of Latrobe, Pennsylvania and a graduate of Saint Joseph’s University. He is looking forward to continuing to help Mercy student-athletes grow as athletes, students, and leaders.