If you’re looking for a wonderful afternoon of competitive sports in a feel-good environment, look no further than Mt. Hope High School and its unified basketball team. As someone once pointed out to this reporter, “It’s a heart-warming experience.”

For those not familiar with unified sports, the program “joins people with and without intellectual disabilities on the same team.” For the kids at Mt. Hope High, it’s been a breath of fresh air. And, for head coach Tom Fullen, unified basketball has been one of his greatest joys.

“These are special athletes,” says Fullen, who has been more of a father figure to a lot of these kids. To put it mildly, he’s enjoyed every minute of it.

“I started coaching these special athletes at Mt. Hope since it started 12 years ago, and now have never had a better enjoyment seeing these youngsters practicing and playing games,” he explained. “They are so willing to learn the game and listen to you. Just seeing them having fun at practice and games is so rewarding. The smile on their faces tells it all, and when they score a basket it’s fabulous what they do and makes me feel great inside knowing they are truly enjoying the game.”

Tom Fullen is quintessentially a man of all trades at the high school. Everybody knows him and truly appreciates his efforts each and every school day. He works hand in hand with many of the other coaches and does whatever he can to make sports enjoyable for all concerned.

“I’ve been coaching here in Rhode Island since 2006,” he pointed out. “When I moved up here I coached at Kickemuit Middle School, and freshmen at Mt. Hope High and Tiverton High School. I love coaching and teaching the players the finer points of the game.”

A die-hard Pittsburgh Steelers fan (and he’ll let you know it at every turn), Coach Fullen comes from a basketball family. His dad attended the University of Pittsburgh for two years, and his older brother just retired as athletic director at Blackhawk High School in Pennsylvania. He and his twin brother also played on a championship team in Swissvale, Pa.

“The best part is my dad and my brothers all played for a championship team,” he proudly exclaimed.

I recently caught up with Coach Fullen at last week’s Mt. Hope-Tiverton Unified basketball game, and again, the coach was full of vim and vigor.

“The best part of my pre-game speech is when I take them into the team room and we talk a little and then I give them my big speech: ‘Let’s go play and have fun,’” he concluded. “I love these kids to no end.”