Oliver to remain Head Coach of Lancer Men's Basketball program
5/25/2010 4:26:13 PM
Gord Grace, Director of Athletics at the University of Windsor has announced that Chris Oliver will remain the Head Coach of the Lancer Men's Basketball progam after agreeing to a new contract early this week.
The native of Kitchener, Ontario has transformed the men’s basketball program since arriving on campus in Windsor in the spring of 2005.
Oliver is 77-33 in conference play and has captured four OUA West regular season titles, two OUA West playoff titles, a Wilson Cup Ontario Championship, and earned two berths to the CIS National Championships.
Considered to be one of the top coaches in Canada, Oliver is a two-time OUA Men's Basketball Coach of the Year and has amassed an impressive overall record of 102-64 at the University of Windsor.
“We are thrilled that Chris will continue to lead our Lancer Men’s Basketball program going forward,” said Grace. “He has built one of the elite programs in Canada and we are excited to watch him continue to challenge for provincial and national championship titles in the years to come.”
In 2009-10, Oliver led his team to an impressive 17-5 record as they captured the OUA West regular season and playoff championship. Despite adding seven new players to the line-up, the Lancers were ranked in the top ten in Canada throughout the entire season and they earned a berth at the CIS National Championships in Ottawa.
Oliver’s squad has been ranked in the CIS Top 10 for three straight years without a week off. While at the University of Windsor, he has been honoured with the Fox 40 OUA Coach of the Year Award, the OUA Men's Basketball Coach of the Year Award twice and the Gino Fracas Award as the University of Windsor Coach of the Year.
“I am very excited to continue on as the basketball coach at the University of Windsor,” commented Oliver. “We’ve worked hard to build an elite national program and I will continue to pursue our ultimate goal of winning a CIS National Championship."
"I love Windsor and this is the right choice for my wife Jen and I," he added. "This is an amazing university and community to live and work in and I couldn’t be happier to be part of the University of Windsor.”
In 2008-09, Oliver's Lancers finished with a 15-7 record and second place in the OUA West Division. They were again ranked in the CIS Top Ten for the entire year.
His Lancers were 17-5 in 2007-08 as they captured their second straight OUA West regular season championship.
In 2006-07, Oliver's squad had a tremendous season as they captured the OUA Provincial Championship title and qualified for the CIS National Championship tournament in Halifax. That year, he led the Lancers to a 16-6 record and the OUA West Division title. In the playoffs, Oliver's Lancers knocked off Guelph, McMaster and defending national champions, the Carleton Ravens to capture the Wilson Cup.
Prior to arriving in Windsor, Chris served as the Head Coach at Queen's University for three seasons. He also served as an assistant coach at McMaster University under Joe Raso for six seasons.
He graduated with a Bachelor of Kinesiology from McMaster University, a Bachelor of Education degree from Brock University, and a Master's in Physical Education and Coaching Studies from the University of Victoria.