New difficulties face every coach when coming into any new sports team, so Clayton Pottinger is embracing every single one as he transitions into his new role as the UBC Okanagan mensa国际传媒檚 basketball coach.
After eight years with Red Deer College, Pottinger said that the decision to come to the Okanagan wasnsa国际传媒檛 an easy one.
sa国际传媒淚tsa国际传媒檚 been a gambit of emotions, lots of friends and family that Isa国际传媒檓 sad to leave,sa国际传媒� said Pottinger.
sa国际传媒淚tsa国际传媒檚 an opportunity for growth and change, and new challenges are always a good thing in life.sa国际传媒�
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Pottinger comes in to UBCO to replace interim head coach Ken Olynk, has wasted no time introducing himself to players at the university and around campus, hosting a shoot-around over the weekend with past, present and perspective players from all over the Okanagan.
The former Red Deer coach had a 137-41 record in his eight years with the Kings, including two conference titles and three national championships berths, winning a silver medal in 2014.
Pottinger will look to use some of the same coaching philosophies that he developed at Red Deer College when he takes over for the Heat.
sa国际传媒淚 think the similarities made it intriguing, theresa国际传媒檚 a lot of good basketball in the valley to build strong, home grown teams,sa国际传媒� he said.
sa国际传媒淭hat helped me to put together a vision pretty quick. Fundamental thing we can do to bring stability and culture right away and start building.sa国际传媒�
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While Kelowna was on Pottinger and his familysa国际传媒檚 short-list to one day move to, it was the vision for the UBC Okanagan athleticssa国际传媒檚 program that sold Pottinger on the new coaching gig.
sa国际传媒淭he more I investigated, I realized wesa国际传媒檙e on the same page; they get it,sa国际传媒� he said.
sa国际传媒淩eally starting to think I could help them achieve their vision for the basketball program.sa国际传媒�
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Excitement played a major role as well as getting immersed in the grassroots of a building program was something Pottinger was always passionate about.
sa国际传媒淚 am pumped about it. Creating a culture, creating stability, I believe the team can be a playoff team, and be consistently good. You have to respect who yousa国际传媒檙e working with and where yousa国际传媒檙e working, and keep moving from there,sa国际传媒� he said.
Pottinger will take over full coaching duties at UBC Okanagan on May 15.
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