Member Association News: CAN Anounces Basketball Coach for Belgrade 2009
April 29th, 2008
Canada's Head Coach O'Rourke
Canadian Interuniversity Sport announced the appointment of University of Guelph coach Chris O'Rourke as head coach of Canada's men's basketball team for the 25th Summer Universiade set to take place July 1-12, 2009, in Belgrade, Serbia. O'Rourke will lead the Canadian hoops squad for the second straight World University Games, after guiding the red and white to a bronze medal in Bangkok, Thailand, in 2007. University of Ottawa's Dave DeAveiro and Humber College's Darrell Glenn, who both assisted O'Rourke in Thailand, also return for a second tour of duty. "I am very honoured to have been selected as head coach of the 2009 Universiade team", said O'Rourke. "We're looking to build on the success of last year's bronze medal. Our group will be comprised of talented, experienced players and we're hoping to show the world once again that Canada is a top contender." O'Rourke shows a 129-82 conference record in 11 campaigns at the helm of the Gryphons, whom he led to the CIS final in 2003. As a player, the former OUA all-star helped Guelph claim back-to-back national silver medals in 1990 and 1991. The third-place finish in Thailand last summer was O'Rourke's second international podium as a Team Canada coach. He was lead assistant coach of the Canadian Young Men's Team that captured bronze at the 2005 Under-21 world championships in Argentina.
The men's basketball squad has been Canada's most successful entry in team sports at the World University Games over the years. Crowned Universiade champions at home in Edmonton in 1983, the Canadians have reached the podium six times over the past nine Games. Coached by the legendary Jack Donohue and led by Canadian Basketball Hall of Famers Jay Triano and Bill Wennington, the 1983 side beat Yugoslavia 83-68 to capture the country's lone Universiade title. In the semi-final round, the Canadians had defeated an American squad led by future NBA legends Charles Barkley and Karl Malone, 85-77. Canada's podium finishes in men's basketball at the Universiade: - Gold (1): 1983 (Edmonton, Canada) - Silver (3): 1997 (Sicily, Italy), 1993 (Buffalo, USA), 1991 (Sheffield, England) - Bronze (4): 2007 (Bangkok, Thailand), 2003 (Daegu, South Korea), 1995 (Fukuoka, Japan), 1985 (Kobe, Japan). Team Canada website: www.disport.ca/e/international/universiade/belgrade_2009
