Oklahoma State University Athletics
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From the Big City to the Plains: Kris Quintana’s Journey to the ‘Madison Square Garden of the Plains’
October 06, 2022 | Cowboy Basketball
Basketball is in Kris Quintana's roots, and his home court is at the base of it. So much so, that the lock screen of his cell phone is a picture of the hoop from the court.
Now the video coordinator for Oklahoma State men's basketball, Quintana has had a long journey to get where he is now.
Hailing from Staten Island, one of the five boroughs of New York City, Quintana always had a basketball court around him. While baseball was the first sport he played and his favorite professional team is the New York Mets, basketball proved to be his true passion.
His home court was just a couple blocks away from his childhood house. It was that court that helped him decide which direction to go for his career.
"I knew early on that I never wanted to have a desk job in my life," Quintana said. "Seeing my parents take that path even though they had other passions, I knew I didn't want that."
Quintana's first experience with a basketball team of any level came while he was a freshman at St. John's University. The Brooklyn Nets, previously playing in New Jersey, had relocated to Brooklyn, and needed ball boys. Quintana answered the call.
He worked with the Nets for his first three years of college. As a junior, he was brought in as an intern with the Nets' basketball operations department. He went to every practice and home game while he worked side-by-side with NBA legends. It was then, with the Nets, that Quintana decided he wanted to become a coach.
After graduating St. John's with a bachelor's degree in sport management, his first long-term opportunity came with the Westchester Knicks of the NBA's G-League. While working for the Knicks, Quintana worked alongside NBA players such as Trey Burke, Luke Kornet, and RJ Barrett.
"It was a whole different game," Quintana said. "There's a lot going on and it's a big adjustment."
After spending three years with the Knicks, the organization brought in new president, Leon Rose, in 2020. In turn, Rose came with a new group of leaders for Westchester's team. That meant the end of Quintana's time with the Knicks.
"It's part of the game, right?" Quintana said. "It's the nature of the game. That happened, and I was essentially out of a job for a little bit. And that was hard."
With COVID-19 reaching its peak, Quintana said he wasn't sure if he'd be able to find a job.
Soon afterward, however, Quintana received a phone call from USA Basketball. Quintana was offered a job to be the team's video coordinator.
"It ended up being a gift and a curse," Quintana said.
Quintana's first two summers with the organization proved to be a success. After his first summer, he was offered a job with the Greensboro Swarm of the G-League. Quintana was back to a full-time position with a professional organization.
After spending a year with the Swarm, Quintana felt he needed a change. While working with USA basketball, Quintana caught the attention of Cowboy basketball head coach, Mike Boynton. At the conclusion of the Swarm's 2022 season, Boynton reached out to Quintana to offer him a job at OSU.
After some consideration, Quintana accepted the position and moved to Stillwater. He said the culture Boynton created is something he wanted to be part of and contribute to his decision.
Quintana has only been in Stillwater since August, but he said he already feels at home.
"One thing out here that shocked me the most, at first, is that everybody's nice," he said.
Quintana has two goals going into this season and beyond: help his athletes become better players, as well as people, and compete for a championship. In his time in the world of basketball, Quintana has yet to help a team reach the top. He intends to change that in his time at OSU.
Quintana is a long way from the hoop on his lock screen, but it reminds him every day of how he got to where he is today. While rocking orange for the first time in his career, Quintana is ready to start his first season with OSU.
"I just want to help these guys make it to that next level, whatever it is for each of them," he said. "And then putting one of those banners up, for sure."
As OSU celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month, Quintana, being of Puerto Rican descent, called for a unified country to rally around the devastating effects of hurricane Ian. He said this month is important to bring aid and notoriety to those struggling with the hurricane.
"Lend a hand, help somebody in need," Quintana said. "I think that's the biggest thing that we can take away from this, with everything going on right now."
Now the video coordinator for Oklahoma State men's basketball, Quintana has had a long journey to get where he is now.
Hailing from Staten Island, one of the five boroughs of New York City, Quintana always had a basketball court around him. While baseball was the first sport he played and his favorite professional team is the New York Mets, basketball proved to be his true passion.
His home court was just a couple blocks away from his childhood house. It was that court that helped him decide which direction to go for his career.
"I knew early on that I never wanted to have a desk job in my life," Quintana said. "Seeing my parents take that path even though they had other passions, I knew I didn't want that."
Quintana's first experience with a basketball team of any level came while he was a freshman at St. John's University. The Brooklyn Nets, previously playing in New Jersey, had relocated to Brooklyn, and needed ball boys. Quintana answered the call.
He worked with the Nets for his first three years of college. As a junior, he was brought in as an intern with the Nets' basketball operations department. He went to every practice and home game while he worked side-by-side with NBA legends. It was then, with the Nets, that Quintana decided he wanted to become a coach.
After graduating St. John's with a bachelor's degree in sport management, his first long-term opportunity came with the Westchester Knicks of the NBA's G-League. While working for the Knicks, Quintana worked alongside NBA players such as Trey Burke, Luke Kornet, and RJ Barrett.
"It was a whole different game," Quintana said. "There's a lot going on and it's a big adjustment."
After spending three years with the Knicks, the organization brought in new president, Leon Rose, in 2020. In turn, Rose came with a new group of leaders for Westchester's team. That meant the end of Quintana's time with the Knicks.
"It's part of the game, right?" Quintana said. "It's the nature of the game. That happened, and I was essentially out of a job for a little bit. And that was hard."
With COVID-19 reaching its peak, Quintana said he wasn't sure if he'd be able to find a job.
Soon afterward, however, Quintana received a phone call from USA Basketball. Quintana was offered a job to be the team's video coordinator.
"It ended up being a gift and a curse," Quintana said.
Quintana's first two summers with the organization proved to be a success. After his first summer, he was offered a job with the Greensboro Swarm of the G-League. Quintana was back to a full-time position with a professional organization.
After spending a year with the Swarm, Quintana felt he needed a change. While working with USA basketball, Quintana caught the attention of Cowboy basketball head coach, Mike Boynton. At the conclusion of the Swarm's 2022 season, Boynton reached out to Quintana to offer him a job at OSU.
After some consideration, Quintana accepted the position and moved to Stillwater. He said the culture Boynton created is something he wanted to be part of and contribute to his decision.
Quintana has only been in Stillwater since August, but he said he already feels at home.
"One thing out here that shocked me the most, at first, is that everybody's nice," he said.
Quintana has two goals going into this season and beyond: help his athletes become better players, as well as people, and compete for a championship. In his time in the world of basketball, Quintana has yet to help a team reach the top. He intends to change that in his time at OSU.
Quintana is a long way from the hoop on his lock screen, but it reminds him every day of how he got to where he is today. While rocking orange for the first time in his career, Quintana is ready to start his first season with OSU.
"I just want to help these guys make it to that next level, whatever it is for each of them," he said. "And then putting one of those banners up, for sure."
As OSU celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month, Quintana, being of Puerto Rican descent, called for a unified country to rally around the devastating effects of hurricane Ian. He said this month is important to bring aid and notoriety to those struggling with the hurricane.
"Lend a hand, help somebody in need," Quintana said. "I think that's the biggest thing that we can take away from this, with everything going on right now."
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