LANCERS COACH MAKES BASKETBALL HISTORY
Vallee takes helm of professional men’s team in Hamilton
It’s a groundbreaking move for Chantal Vallee and the fledgling Hamilton Honey Badgers. Vallee, the longtime head coach of the University of Windsor Lancers women’s basketball team, was named the first-ever head coach and general manager of Hamilton’s entry in the Canadian Elite Basketball League on Wednesday. According to Honey Badgers president John Lashway, the hire makes Vallee the first woman to ever serve as head coach and general manager of a men’s professional basketball team. Nancy Lieberman, who coached an NBA Development League team in 2010-11, is the only other woman to serve as a men’s professional head coach. “Men have been coaching females with success for generations,” Vallee said. “I think what’s interesting is we’re at the point where a man or a woman can be hired, not based on gender, but ability.
“I didn’t know (it was a first). I had no idea. It’s an honour, but it was not part of the discussion. I just wanted to continue to coach and develop.”
Lashway said gender never played a role in the hiring of Vallee. It was Robin Brudner, the interim CEO and secretary general at Canadian Olympic Committee, who put him on to Vallee.
“She told me, when it comes time to hire a head coach, look at the coach at Windsor,” said Lashawy, who spent more than two decades in senior management in the NBA and a decade in the NHL.
“I knew they had a good program. I looked at Chantal and added her to my list.”
As the process progressed, Vallee quickly moved to the top of Lashway’s list.
“She finished on top of every area of my criteria,” Lashway said. “I looked at a lot of people. She’s a winner. It’s important to have someone I can work in lockstep with. In 22 years with the NBA and NHL, I saw that once, but I think I might have found it (with Vallee).” But Vallee, who joined the Lancers in 2005 and helped the team to a 351-93 record and five national championships, also made it clear that she is not leaving the Windsor program.
“I’m totally coming back to Windsor,” said Vallee, who is currently on a one-year sabbatical. “That was a big part of the discussion.
“I have support from (athletic director) Mike Havey and Dr. (Michael) Khan (the dean of human kinetics). They ’ve been tremendous. They see it as a great opportunity, not only for Chantal Vallee, but the University of Windsor. One of their coaches is getting professional experience and the Honey Badgers know I have responsibilities in Windsor.”
The CEBL will begin its first season of operation May 12 with teams in Edmonton, Fraser Valley, B.C., Saskatoon, Guelph, Niagara (St. Catharines) and Hamilton. The 20-game season will play out over 15 weeks with the league wrapping up in late August. Richard Petko owns the league and players must apply to play in the league. From there, players are sorted into pools and Vallee will create her roster from those pools of players.
“I still have to manage salary cap,” said Vallee, whose roster must be at least 70 per cent Canadian. “I have to offer contracts and negotiate with players. I know talent when I see it. It doesn’t matter if it’s a guy or a girl, a professional or a university player. There are two things I always look for and that’s talent and character.” While Vallee has established herself as a top-flight coach, there will still be challenges taking on a professional team that have nothing to do with her knowledge of the game. “The opportunity to coach a professional team was super attractive and coach an age group that’s more talented because it’s older and more professional,” said Vallee, who served briefly as a professional women’s coach in Ecuador in 2015. “That’s something I haven’t gotten to work with. “It’s a challenge coaching professional men, but people who know me know I’m always trying to improve myself. Growth is important in life and part of the journey. “People will bring that up ( being a woman) and it’s part of this journey, but I’m going to go out there and be me. I will push these guys and demand respect. I expect them to react to me the same.”
It doesn’t matter if it’s a guy or a girl, a professional or a university player. There are two things I always look for and that’s talent and character.