UNews - Director of Sport and Recreation

Hansen named Horns men's head coach

trevor.kenney — Thu, 28 Mar 2013 21:45:05 +0000

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Pronghorns Athletic Department announced that Mike Hansen (BA '96, BEd '99, MA '09) has been named the new head coach of the Pronghorn men's basketball program Friday, becoming the 10th head coach in the program's history.

Hansen replaces Dave Adams, who resigned Feb. 25 after his fourth season with the program to pursue an international teaching opportunity.

"We are excited to welcome Mike back to the program," says Executive Director of Sport and Recreation, Sandy Slavin. "His track record at the college level speaks for itself and his connection to the basketball community in southern Alberta is equally important."

Hansen returns to the 'Horns program after suiting up for the blue and gold during the 1990s. He played in 74 games for the Pronghorns over four seasons under the program's all-time winningest coach, Dave Crook, and graduated after the 1994 season.

"It is such an honour to be able to lead the Horns program," says Hansen. "Dave Crook and Dave Adams have been two of the most influential mentors in my life. I have a huge sense of responsibility to live up to the standards they have set for this program, and I hope I can have the same impact on my players that they've had on me."

Coaching at both the college and high school level in Alberta, Hansen comes to the 'Horns with a wealth of experience. Over five seasons in the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) with Lethbridge College and NAIT, Hansen compiled a 68-30 conference record and a 114-47 overall record. Hansen reached the playoffs in all five seasons in the ACAC, including bronze medal finishes in 2009 and 2012 and a silver medal at the 2011 ACAC Final Four Championship.

After leading Lethbridge College to a 17-1 record and a CCAA silver medal, he moved on to NAIT for one season and finished with a 16-4 record. He resigned from NAIT after one season due to the inability to relocate his family to Edmonton.

In addition to his college experience, Hansen spent 10 years as a local high school coach, winning three league titles, four zone championships and attending the provincial championships six times, including this past year when he led the Chinook High School Senior Girls team to its first 4A Zone championship and a fourth place finish at provincials. He has also been involved in Alberta's provincial program, serving as an assistant coach and winning a bronze medal at the 2001 Canada Games.

Hansen will have instant familiarity with the current 'Horns roster, having coached a number of the current 'Horns at Lethbridge College.

Adams resigns as Horns' head coach

trevor.kenney — Mon, 25 Feb 2013 22:50:33 +0000

Following a 12-win season, the most the program has achieved since the 1999-2000 season, Dave Adams has resigned as the head coach of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Pronghorns men's basketball program to pursue an international opportunity outside of coaching.

Hired April 17, 2009, Adams finishes his second tenure with the program with a 46-60 career won-loss record, the second best winning percentage of any Pronghorn men's basketball coach. He also guided the Horns to three post-season appearances. His first stint with the 'Horns was as interim head coach for the 2001-02 season, following the departure of Dave Crook.

"One door is closing and another door is opening both in Horns' Nation, and in my personal life," says Adams. "My journey has been greatly enriched by the wonderful experiences as a player, assistant coach and then head coach at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge, but both my family and I are excited about this new endeavour and exciting opportunity overseas."

Head coach Dave Adams, seen here during a timeout, leaves the Horns after one of the team's most successful seasons.

Also an alumnus of the men's basketball program, Adams suited up for 76 games for the Blue and Gold from 1976-81, having his best season during the 1980-81 season when he averaged 11.9 points per game.

Adams has accepted a position as Principal/ Superintendent for the Alruwad International Schools in Muscat, Oman. There are four new schools set to open under the Alruwad International schools umbrella that will be offering Canadian curricula education in addition to sports academies. Two of those areas are close to Adams's heart - basketball and triathlon.

"I'm happy for Dave, I can't imagine a job that would be more perfect for him," says Executive Director of Sport and Recreation, Sandy Slavin. "He has done a great job for us these past four years, he's moved the program forward and is leaving it in great shape for the next coach. We will all miss the enthusiasm and excitement that Dave brings to Pronghorn Athletics."

Pronghorn Athletics will begin the process of searching for a new coach immediately.

McAleenan looks ahead as new Horns coach

trevor.kenney — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 19:40:06 +0000

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge welcomed Erin McAleenan as the new Pronghorn women's basketball coach recently, the 10th head coach in the program's history.

"We are really excited to have a dynamic young coach whose vision will help move our program forward," says Executive Director of Sport and Recreation Sandy Slavin. "

McAleenan comes to the 'Horns from the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Alberta Pandas, where she spent the last three seasons as an assistant coach. She also brings a wealth of national and provincial team experience to the program.

She was an assistant coach with the Canadian Developmental National team at the Pan Am Games in 2011 and an apprentice coach with the Canadian Senior National team in summer 2011.

As well, McAleenan has coached in the both the Alberta and Ontario Basketball Associations with numerous teams, including the head coach of the Alberta U17 girls last summer and this coming summer.

"I am thrilled about my appointment as head coach," says McAleenan. "I am looking forward to working in such a strong basketball community and for a university that prides itself of personal connections and community engagement."

"My first priority will be to meet with the current student-athletes and prepare our vision for next season."
Prior to joining the U of A Pandas as an assistant, McAleenan spent five years teaching and coaching high school basketball at Trinity College School, a private school in Port Hope, Ontario.

The Sussex, New Brunswick native also played at the university level, playing for the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Acadia from 1999 to 2003.

"I am extremely excited to have been given the opportunity to be a CIS head coach, as I value the role that we have in developing student-athletes both on and off the court," says McAleenan. "I believe that with a strong work ethic, passion and commitment, we can be the program that excels in developing future leaders in the community while being committed to excellence on the court."

��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Women's Basketball Coaches
Glen Alexander (1972-73)
Jack Lilja (1973-77)
Donna Roman (1977-79)
Louisa Zerbe (1979-86)
Cal O'Brien (1986-87)
Trix Baker (1987-91)
Dori Johnson (Rodzinyak) (1991-2000)
Shannon Finnie (2000-04)
Donna Branch (2004-12)
Erin McAleenan (2012- present)

Patzer, Langevin earn national awards

trevor.kenney — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 16:36:38 +0000

Fifth-year ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge fly-half/fullback Ashley Patzer was named player of the year in Canadian Interuniversity Sport women's rugby for the second time in her career, Thursday night.

The Lethbridge native, who was first honoured in 2006, became the third double MVP since women's rugby was added to the CIS program back in 1998. St. Francis Xavier's Ghislaine Landry earned back-to-back MVP nods in 2007 and 2008, while Alberta's Heather Denkhaus claimed the trophy in 1999 and was a co-recipient in 2000.

PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Ashley Patzer, Lethbridge

Patzer is one of the most decorated players in the short history of CIS women's rugby. The five-foot-two Pronghorns captain was named CIS rookie of the year in 2005, was chosen MVP of last year's CIS championship when she guided the Pronghorns to their second straight national title, and is now a two-time CIS player of the year (2009, 2006) and four-time all-Canadian (2009, 2007, 2006, 2005).

In her fifth and final university campaign, Patzer tallied a Canada West-best 40 points in four outings – four tries, seven converts, two penalty goals – as the Pronghorns cruised through the regular season outscoring their rivals by a 217-7 margin over four wins. In the playoffs, the 22-year-old was named game MVP of the conference final after she scored 15 points on a try, two drop goals and a pair of converts to lead Lethbridge to a 30-0 win over Alberta and a fourth straight Canada West banner.

A third-year kinesiology student at Lethbridge, Patzer is a member of Canada's senior and sevens national teams. In 2006, she captained the Canadian U19 squad to a win over England.

"Ashley has reinforced her reputation as an all-round phenom," said Lethbridge head coach Neil Langevin. "To call her dynamic would be an understatement. She has continued to be an inspirational leader for her teammates and has developed to be one of the top players in the world."

StFX's Ghislaine Landry, Laval's Claudiane Renaud and McMaster's Nina Bui were the other nominees for CIS MVP honours.

Other CIS major award winners announced during the All-Canadian Gala include Concordia's Hughanna Gaw of Elgin, Que., who was named the nation's top freshman, Bishop's Frances Bajdik-Bova of Ottawa, who received the Student-Athlete Community Service award, and Lethbridge's Neil Langevin, who was named coach of the year, an award presented by Coaches of Canada.

COACH OF THE YEAR: presented by Coaches of Canada: Neil Langevin, Lethbridge

Langevin became the first coach from a Canada West program to be named CIS coach of the year.

In his 10th campaign at the helm, Langevin guided the Pronghorns to a 4-0 regular season record, a 2-0 playoff mark including a 30-0 win over five-time national champion Alberta in the gold-medal final, and a fourth straight conference banner. In six Canada West meetings, Lethbridge outscored its opponents 333-7. On Sept. 12, the 'Horns also travelled to Antigonish, N.S., where they scored a 17-12 exhibition victory over the 12-time AUS champion StFX X-Women in a rematch of last year's CIS final, won 29-15 by Lethbridge.

The only head coach in Pronghorns history and a two-time Canada West coach of the year (2009, 2002), Langevin led his troops to the podium in each of their four previous CIS championship appearances including a bronze medal in 2003, silver in 2006 and back-to-back Monilex trophy triumphs in 2007 and 2008. A schoolteacher in the Lethbridge School District, he served as head coach of Canada's senior national team from 2004 to 2007 – including a fourth-place finish at the Rugby World Cup in 2006 – and was at the helm of the Canadian U23 squad in 2003.

"Neil has done a wonderful job building a program that we are very proud of," said Lethbridge executive director of sport and recreation Sandy Slavin. "Neil and his staff have worked tirelessly over the years, building a championship calibre team from scratch."

Saint Mary's Dawn MacDonald, Bishop's Eryn Hessian and McMaster's Sandro Fiorino were named coach of the year in the AUS, QSSF and OUA, respectively, in 2009.

ALL-CANADIAN TEAM

The all-Canadian team was also announced on Thursday with both Ashley Patzer and teammate Ashley MacDonald being named from the Pronghorns. It is the second straight honour for MacDonald and fourth overall for Patzer.

UNews - Director of Sport and Recreation

Hansen named Horns men's head coach

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