WINNIPEG – The Winnipeg Sea Bears announced the coaching staff who will support Mike Taylor, the Sea Bears’ head coach and general manager, announced earlier this year.
“I am very excited about our inaugural Winnipeg Sea Bears coaching staff and believe we have assembled an excellent coaching team with each bringing quality in different areas. Working together, we aim to create the best player experience in the CEBL and help establish our Sea Bears organization on and off the floor,” said Taylor.
A face familiar to Winnipeggers, Mike Raimbault will join the Sea Bears after leading his University of Winnipeg Wesmen men’s team to a conference silver and the U SPORTS elite eight this season. Raimbault’s roots in the province run deep: he grew up and played his college years in Brandon before transitioning to the coaching staff. He earned a silver medal in that role and a CCAA title as the head coach of the UNBC Timberwolves. The current Wesmen head coach will assume the role of assistant coach for the Sea Bears.
Another coach who devotes his time to cultivating Canadian talent, Ryan Thomson, has been named assistant coach and assistant general manager. Thomson has spent the last five years leading the Lakehead Thunderwolves program out of Thunder Bay, ON, and will join the Sea Bears’ staff as the assistant coach and assistant general manager. Thomson previously filled this role for the then-Fraser Valley Bandits of the CEBL (now Vancouver Bandits).
“I will count on him closely and rely on our experience together from last summer. Ryan will play a vital role in all areas of our basketball operations,” said Taylor, who sees Thomson as a rising star in Canadian coaching.
Analyzing the tape will be Josh Reddy, who has been named assistant coach and video coordinator for the team. Reddy has helped the Victoria Vikes to two straight conference titles in his two years with the esteemed program. Reddy also brings with him CEBL experience from his time with the Fraser Valley Bandits. He was a key member of Canada Basketball’s coaching staff. Reddy impressed Taylor with his work ethic and attention to detail in 2022.
Taking care of analytics in an assistant coach role is William Gatchalian. The Brock Badger has spent six years with the men’s program, most recently becoming assistant coach. Gatchalian served on the staff of the then-Hamilton Honey Badgers (now Brampton Honey Badgers), and has made a name for himself in the high performance program with Canada Basketball.
“His creative analysis will help us maximize our efficiency and create advantages throughout the summer,” said Taylor.
Leading the player development side will be Juwan Brown. Brown brings with him experience in the NBA G League as a special assistant to the head coach/director of player development with the Texas Legends. Brown has also spent time as a pro skills trainer with Tyler Relph Basketball, training NBA athletes like Julius Randle and Buddy Hield.
“I have seen Juwan’s work up-close and personal and believe our Sea Bears players will benefit all summer from time spent working with Juwan,” said Taylor.
The team’s inaugural season tips off May 27 at Canada Life Centre. For tickets, visit http://seabears.ca/tickets.
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About the Winnipeg Sea Bears
The Winnipeg Sea Bears is a professional basketball team competing in the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL). The team will play all their home games at the Canada Life Centre in downtown Winnipeg, MB. The Sea Bears open their inaugural 2023 season on May 27 against the Vancouver Bandits. Ticket information is available at www.seabears.ca. The team’s social handle @wpgseabears may be followed on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, LinkedIn, Facebook and YouTube
About the CEBL
A league created by Canadians for Canadians with a mission to develop Canadian players, coaches, sports executives, and referees, the CEBL boasts the highest percentage of Canadian players of any pro league in the country with 71 percent of its 2022 rosters being Canadian. Players bring experience from the NBA, NBA G League, top international pro leagues, the Canadian National team program, and top NCAA programs as well as U SPORTS. Nine players have moved from the CEBL into the NBA following a CEBL season, and 28 CEBL players attended NBA G League training camps during October. The CEBL season runs from May through August. Head to CEBL.ca for more information or follow @CEBLeague on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, LinkedIn, Facebook & YouTube.