Hemmings was head coach of the national team that represented Canada at the 1991 World University Games in Sheffield, England, which was the last team to beat the former Soviet Union in international competition before the collapse of the USSR. The win over the Soviets guaranteed the Canadians a spot in the gold medal final.
“To beat the Soviets was such a huge accomplishment, and is something I am very proud of,” says Hemmings. “We were down at half-time, but battled back in the second half for one of the biggest wins I’ve ever been a part of. The whole experience was fantastic and a memory I will always cherish.”
Hemmings and the FISU team eventually lost the gold medal final to the U.S.A., a roster featuring numerous college basketball stars of the time and future NBA icons including Bobby Hurley, Hubert Davis, and Anthony Mason. Although a silver medal was a bitter pill to swallow, Hemmings looks back at the experience fondly.
“We had Spencer McKay, who was about a 60% per cent free-throw shooter, hit four big free-throws to seal the win. They called a time-out and Spencer came back to the bench and said it was the greatest victory in his life. Moments like that stay with you forever.”
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