Whitby Saints Basketball Association

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Welcome to the Whitby Saints Basketball Association. This season promises to be an exciting one.

Skill development will be the focus in each division, with the goal of setting the foundation for the move to the next level. Beginning with our youngest players learning basic rules and ball handling skills, to the older players learning individual development, as well as, team play. By the time players reach their last year, our Rep program should be full of well skilled and exciting players.

Chris O'Rourke, head coach of Canada's National Mens Team for University aged players and also the head coach at the University of Guelph, agreed to work with the Whitby Saints in a series of skill building clinics through-out the summer. The first clinic was held in May 2009 and was offered free to U12 rep level boys. Stay tuned for further news on other clinics to be offered this summer.

A 1994 Bachelor of Arts graduate of the University of Guelph, is now heading into his 11th year as head coach of the Basketball Gryphons and sports a conference record of 129-82. From 1989-94, Chris played for Guelph and was one of Canada’s premier 3-point shooters, team captain multiple years and a First Team OUA West All-Star. Chris played on the 1989 OUA West, OUA Champion team as well as the 1990 and 1991 CIAU Silver Medalist teams.

In 1994 through 1997, he was the Gryphons’ assistant coach. Chris’s duties also include Director of the Gryphon Basketball Camps.

In the off-season, Chris coached the Ontario Juvenile U17 team to two national titles in 2000 and 2001. He was lead assistant coach of Canada’s Young Men’s National Program that captured a bronze medal at the 2005 U21 World Championships in Argentina. The team also won the inaugural Jack Donohue Invitational that summer. In 2003, the Gryphons captured the OUA West Division title and were silver medallists at the CIS and OUA Championships.

This past summer Chris was appointed 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. He leads the team for the second straight World University Games, after guiding the red and white to a bronze medal in Bangkok, Thailand, in 2007.