Deerfield employee unites seniors and students through love of basketball

For Wes Burrell, the impact of basketball goes well beyond the final score.

Wes is the head coach of the Hoover High School boys basketball team and a former Hoover athlete. He speaks about basketball with unmistakable enthusiasm. He also works part-time at Deerfield, an Immanuel retirement living community in Urbandale, Iowa. There, that same enthusiasm naturally carries into his interactions with residents.

Wes appreciates how openly residents share their experiences and perspectives with him. That honesty and trust matter to him, and it’s one of the reasons he enjoys sharing his own life with them in return.

Casual conversations with residents about basketball quickly led to a bigger idea: why not bring them into the excitement? Soon, residents dressed in Hoover colors sat in the bleachers and cheered on Wes’ student athletes with clear pride.

Because of Wes’ passion for the game, a powerful and unexpected bond formed between his players and the residents who now support them.

For over three years, Wes has been among the first friendly faces at Deerfield. As the front desk attendant, Wes shows compassion, attentiveness, and instant rapport with residents and visitors. These same qualities also define him as a coach. 

“We provide that first good line of communication for visitors, guests, and family,” he shared. “Just being that warm welcome wagon.”

What makes Wes’ story truly unique is how seamlessly his two careers, senior living and high school basketball, have come together. This has created an intergenerational tradition that continues to deepen each basketball season.

A coach with deep roots

Basketball has been a constant in Wes’ life. He played throughout childhood, earned a varsity spot at Hoover High School, and continued competing in college. Coaching felt like a natural next step, and after 14 years at Roosevelt High School, he received the call he’d always hoped for: a return to his alma mater as head coach.

(Photo provided by Wes Burrell.)

“It was kind of a full-circle moment,” he said. “I’ve been where these kids are. I’ve walked the same halls, practiced on the same courts. Now I get to share what I learned and teach them how sports shape you into a young adult.”

Wes recently completed his third season leading the Hoover Huskies. It’s a privilege he doesn’t take for granted. A few years ago, he found himself wondering how he could bring more people into the joy he felt through coaching.

That’s when inspiration struck.

The start of a tradition

The idea came during his frequent front-desk conversations with Deerfield residents, many of whom had been athletes, coaches, officials, or lifelong sports fans. One day, he floated a thought: What if Deerfield residents came to a Hoover basketball game?

(Photo provided by CJ Klicks Photography.)

With enthusiastic support from residents and Deerfield leadership, plans quickly took shape. Despite slippery winter weather that first year, a group of excited residents bundled up and made their way to the gym.

That’s when the magic happened.

“They kept saying, ‘Let’s do it again! Let’s do it again!’” Wes said.

So they did.  For three consecutive years, Deerfield residents have attended Hoover games sporting jerseys and waving pom poms. It’s become a beloved tradition, eagerly awaited by both generations.

A cheering section like no other

(Photo provided by CJ Klicks Photography.)

For Wes’ players, the Deerfield cheering section is far more than added noise: It’s inspiration. It’s perspective. It’s connection.

“It shows the boys that they’re not just playing for themselves,” Wes said. “They’re seen as role models. Not just for younger kids, but other generations too.”

Before and after games, Wes encourages his players to chat with the residents. These moments are full of stories, laughter, and shared love of sport. Residents reminisce about their own days on the court or field. Wes’ players listen, learn, and grow.

At the same time, the residents are greeted like VIPs. The announcer calls out their presence. Students cheer when they enter the gym.

“They feel totally comfortable,” Wes said. “It’s a good family atmosphere.”

More than a game

This tradition goes far beyond basketball. Wes sees that. His players see that. And the residents feel it.

“They want to play harder when the residents are there,” he said. “They know these folks took time out of their day to sit back, relax, and be fans. They want to honor that.”

Residents, in turn, get to experience something energetic and joyful that sparks fond memories while creating brand-new ones. Former referees, coaches, and college athletes now sit side by side with longtime fans, all sharing the same excitement. The love of the sport has become a daily conversation starter.

“There’s probably not a single day I’m at work where someone doesn’t bring up basketball,” Wes said. “Sports just bring people together.”

As Deerfield continues to support the intergenerational tradition by arranging transportation, celebrating the team, cheering along with residents, Wes remains grateful for what has grown from one simple idea.

“It has shown both my players and the residents that relationships can come from unexpected places,” he said.