Celebrating Melanie — A Builder of Swiss & International Basketball Culture
Today, CCSA proudly celebrates Melanie Nussbaumer a leader, pioneer, and long-standing contributor to the development of basketball in Switzerland and beyond.
Melanie’s journey is not simply that of a former player. It is the story of someone who has shaped ecosystems.
From Player to International Prospect
Her playing career spans from Club de Cortaillod (Neuchâtel) to Nyon Basket Féminin, and to competing with Espérance Pully.
In 2008, she trained professionally in Houston and Tampa and earned tryouts with the Washington Mystics (WNBA)
She also trained and trialed with Beşiktaş Women's Basketball Team (Turkish Super League).
Her experience as a player reached from the Swiss leagues to international professional environments, including freestyle and urban basketball networks in Switzerland and Paris.
Pioneer & League Builder
Between 2006 and 2008, she helped develop the first 5x5 format of the National Streetball League (NSBL) in Lausanne, the only female player in the league and winner of the 3-point contest.
She organized weekly competitions throughout the season, contributing to the growth of alternative basketball culture in Switzerland.
FIBA-Certified Agent & International Connector
From 2009 to 2016, Melanie was a FIBA-licensed sports agent.
She managed professional players’ careers, recruiting, negotiating contracts, building player dossiers, scouting in the USA, and collaborating with clubs across Europe.
She co-organized and scouted at USA Select basketball camps in CC’s hometown (Houston, Tx), further strengthening the bridge between Europe and the United States.
Marketing Strategist & Program Developer
As Marketing & Event Manager at Xtreme Heat Sports (2010–2016), she developed brand presence, community campaigns, and international basketball activities in both Switzerland and the USA.
She helped launch skills clinics in Europe, including collaborations with Common Ground in Geneva, and contributed to youth camps in Houston.
At a time when structured basketball development activities were still emerging in Switzerland, she was already building them.
Youth Development & Social Impact
Her work with the Délégation de la jeunesse et loisirs de la Ville de Lausanne through Freebasket and Freebasket4Girls/Girlyball stands as a testament to her deeper mission.
She developed and mentored diverse groups of young girls using basketball as a tool to strengthen:
• Team spirit
• Confidence
• Initiative
• Cultural connection
Through the “Each One, Teach One” philosophy, she built bridges between youth, social workers, and the broader community — even organizing experiences such as attending and meeting the Harlem Globetrotters.
What makes this work truly meaningful is that many of these young women remain connected to her today, crediting those years as impactful during their transition from adolescence to adulthood.
Voice of the Game
From 2008 to 2016, she contributed weekly content on European women’s basketball for Eurobasket.com, at the time one of the leading professional basketball information platforms in Europe.
She also served on the Commission of the Swiss Women’s National League and accompanied the national team to Montenegro, reinforcing her role in the structural growth of women’s basketball in Switzerland.
A Shared Vision for Development
When Melanie first reached out to Coach Chris, she spoke about development, growth, and her care for basketball in Switzerland.
Those values resonate deeply with our mission.
At Coach Chris Sports Academy, we believe in long-term development, structured environments, and meaningful impact. Melanie’s life work reflects those same principles building players, programs, bridges, and belief.
Today, we celebrate not only her birthday, but her contribution to the culture of the game.
Happy Birthday, Melanie.
Thank you for your leadership, your example, and your continued support.
— Team CCSA
