UNews - basketball head coach

Horns women's basketball adds recruits

trevor.kenney — Wed, 11 Sep 2013 17:25:31 +0000

��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge women’s basketball head coach Erin McAleenan has announced the signing of five incoming recruits for the upcoming Canada West season.

Joining the ‘Horns for the 2013-14 season are local products Mariah Miller and Larsyn Webster, as well as Sara Simovic (Nanaimo, B.C.), Kendra Lee (Courtenay, B.C.) and Erin James (Calgary, Alta.).

During her first season at the helm of the Pronghorns women’s basketball program, McAleenan led the team to its first double digit win season since the 1994-95 season. The Horns will look to take steps forward with the help of this talented new crop of student-athletes.

Miller comes to the U of L after a successful high school career with the Catholic Central High School Cougars, where she was a multiple Southern Alberta High School Basketball League (SAHBL) all-star. During her senior season, Miller finished fifth in SAHBL scoring with 15.7 points per game and was named a league first team all-star. She was also a second team all-star in her grade 11 season.

At 5’10”, Miller will also provide some versatility for the ‘Horns with her ability to play both guard and forward and enters her collegiate career with elite level experience with the Provincial and Canadian Centre for Performance (CP) programs. McAleenan was the head coach for the Alberta U17 team last summer for which Miller played.

A true student-athlete, Miller was on the honour roll throughout her high school career.

“We are thrilled to have the commitment of a local student-athlete such as Mariah,” says McAleenan. “Her athleticism, size and ability to shoot the ball will all be an asset to our program.”

Also named a SAHBL first team all-star last season, Webster joins the ‘Horns after being a vital member of the Cardston Cougars 4A Provincial Championship team. As the Cougars’ starting point guard, Webster averaged 11.2 points in 14 league games and was the second leading scorer for the Cougars.

“We are very happy that Larsyn will be joining our program this fall,” says McAleenan. “She is another local student-athlete with a strong work ethic and is committed to putting in the time outside of practice. Larsyn’s ability to shoot the ball and create for others are some of the strengths she adds to our program.”

Vancouver Island Provincial MVP Sara Simovic will also joins the ‘Horns backcourt this season after a stellar senior campaign at Wellington Secondary (Nanaimo, BC). After averaging 22 points, seven assists and six rebounds a game in her final high school season, Simovic played in the B.C. High School All-Star game in Langley.

She also comes to the ‘Horns with vast elite level experience as part of B.C. Provincial teams from the U14 program up to the U17 age group.

“We are very pleased to have Sara joining our program this fall; she has a high basketball IQ and is a very hard worker,” says McAleenan. “Sara’s determination to be successful will definitely add a lot to our program both on and off the court.”

Another Vancouver Island standout who is making the trip east is G.P. Vanier Secondary guard Kendra Lee. In addition to averaging 26 points per game last season, she also set a new single game points record for the Vancouver Island tournament, scoring 44 points in a game.

Lee has shown the ability to be equally successful in the classroom making the honour roll throughout high school.

“Kendra’s ability to shoot the ball will really add depth to our offense as we move to the long FIBA 3pt line this season,” says McAleenan. “She has very good basketball game sense, and is a really hard worker. Kendra demonstrates all of the qualities we look for in our student-athletes and we are thrilled that she has chosen to become a Horn.”

Bishop O’Byrne point guard Erin James rounds out the 2013-14 ‘Horns' recruiting class and will be a dynamic member of the ‘Horns back court. James co-captained her Bishop O’Byrne team to a seventh place finish at the 4A Provincial tournament, while averaging more than 10 points and assists per game.

Another solid student in the classroom, James made the honour roll in both grade 11 and 12.

“Erin is a very well-rounded young lady who brings a strong work ethic and lots of energy to our program,” says McAleenan. “Her ball-handling abilities and her court-sense make her a great addition to our backcourt.”

The ‘Horns open camp this week and see their first non-conference action during the first week of October with a three-game tournament at Queen’s ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ. The Canada West season kicks off the first weekend of November.

Horns add local recruit

trevor.kenney — Thu, 26 May 2011 20:35:14 +0000

��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Pronghorns men's basketball head coach Dave Adams continues to revamp his roster, introducing his sixth signing for the 2011-12 season.

Adams introduced former Raymond Comet Tyson McIntyre to the media on Thursday, adding yet another player coming off a season where his team won a championship.

A six-foot-six forward, McIntyre comes to the Horns from the provincial powerhouse Raymond Comets. During his senior season, he averaged 18.9 points per game as the Comets captured the 4A Boys High School provincial title. McIntyre was also named a Southern Alberta High School first team all-star.

"Horns Nation is thrilled to welcome Tyson McIntyre to the team next season. Tyson is an outstanding athlete who will add depth to our front court," says Adams. "Tyson can run the floor well for his size, and has the ability to play and finish around the rim. We love his work ethic and commitment to make himself a better player."

As a Grade 11 player in Raymond, McIntyre earned his first team all-star nod, averaging just over 17 points a game. In addition to his stellar high school career, McIntyre was also a member of the Alberta U17 team and was a second team all-star at the national tournament, averaging 11.2 points and 7 rebounds per game to lead Alberta in both categories.

In addition to being an exceptional athlete, McIntyre is also a strong student, earning a Rutherford Scholarship and holding an 83 per cent average with one semester remaining before his graduation from high school.

"He is a proven winner coming from the successful Raymond program and we are delighted that a quality player like Tyson has chosen to stay local and enrich the Pronghorns program," says Adams.

The new look Horns will hit the floor in September for training camp and their non-conference schedule. Canada West action will begin Nov. 4-5 when they travel to Winnipeg to face the Wesmen. Horns Basketball will host the Canada West's newest school, UBC-Okanagan, the following Friday for the 2011-12 home opener.

Welcoming Nova Scotia

trevor.kenney — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 21:41:58 +0000

Pronghorns men's basketball head coach Dave Adams, far right, welcomed players and coaches from Winston Churchill High School and the North Preston Bulls Basketball program in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia recently. The two schools were engaging in a spring exchange.

North Preston coach Neville Provo, far left, along with 14-year-old Sheron Simmonds, are also featured in this photo. The Bulls play in the Metro Youth League in Dartmouth and Provo and his wife Karen have been at the helm of the program for 16 years.

While in southern Alberta, the team took in a Southern Alberta High School Basketball League Zone championship game, visited tourist sites such as Waterton National Park and the Head Smashed in Buffalo Jump and participated in a basketball camp sponsored by the Pronghorns men's basketball program.

The Winston Churchill Bulldogs will complete the exchange when they head out to Nova Scotia, Apr. 12 to 16.

Connolly lands at Keyano

trevor.kenney — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 17:09:45 +0000

Former ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Pronghorns men's basketball head coach Mike Connolly will be back patrolling the sidelines this season, heading up the Keyano College Huskies.

Connolly was hired as the Huskies new head coach late last week, returning to the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference where he previously had great success with the Medicine Hat College Rattlers. Connolly, who spent seven years at the helm of the Pronghorns program, won a pair of ACAC bronze medals while with Medicine Hat College and was a two-time coach of the year at the college level.

"We welcome coach Connolly to Fort McMurray as we prepare to compete in the ACAC in September 2010," says Wade Kolmel, Huskies Athletic Director at Keyano College, on the school's athletics website. "On our campus coach Connolly will fulfill our Adult Program Coordinator responsibilities and will continue our commitment to growing the sport and recreation offerings within the Syncrude Sport & Wellness Centre."

Keyano College basketball is making its debut in the ACAC North Division this season after winning both men's and women's championships last season in the Alberta Colleges Athletic League.

"Coach Connolly brings a wealth of experience to our basketball program and we feel he will make an immediate impact in our community," adds Kolmel. "Whenever you attract a leader in their chosen field, to a new program such as ours, an athletic director cannot help but be excited for the future of their department, not to mention the future of the basketball team."

Search begins for new men's basketball coach

trevor.kenney — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 14:58:32 +0000

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Pronghorns men's basketball team is looking for a new head coach.

Mike Connolly, head coach of the Pronghorns since the start of the 2002-03 season, resigned his position Monday afternoon after seven seasons of diligent work with the program.

"Anyone that knows Mike knows that basketball and his Pronghorn teams have been his passion," says Executive Director of Athletics, Sandy Slavin. "For the past seven years he has invested considerable time and energy into his team to develop his players as athletes, students and young men. His contributions to the basketball program, the Department of Athletics and the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ have taken the program in several good directions and have been appreciated."

In addition to coaching the Pronghorns, Connolly was responsible for building a strong Pronghorn Summer Club program that has supported the development of many young basketball players in southern Alberta. He was also behind the establishment of an annual Basketball Jamboree, connecting many high school athletes to the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge.

Connolly, who came to the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ after two seasons as head coach at Medicine Hat College, was very active in the community, sharing his passion for the sport of basketball. His successor will be expected to continue growing these positive connections with the southern Alberta basketball community and enhancing the profile of the Pronghorn program.

Under his leadership, the Pronghorns consistently challenged for the Canada West playoffs but only managed to make the post-season in Connolly's first year, 2002-03. He guided the team to three eight-win seasons during his tenure. In seven seasons at the helm, his teams posted a 44-102 regular season record.

A search for the next Pronghorn men's basketball head coach will begin immediately.

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