Rattlers to have entirely homegrown coaching staff this season

The Saskatchewan Rattlers return to the hard court in less than a month, and this year the Canadian Elite Basketball League team will be led by an all-Saskatchewan coaching staff.

The homegrown talent includes newly-named head coach Eric Magdanz, originally from Yorkton, assistant coaches Steve Burrows from Regina and Saskatoon's Rob Lovelace.

"Basketball across Canada is booming and coaching is kind of at the forefront of that," Magdanz said.

"I think we're pretty lucky and fortunate that we get to be a part of that and use this league as a growth opportunity for ourselves."

All three have been part of the Rattlers for a number of years.

Before Magdanz joined the Rattlers, he spent seven years as head coach of MacEwan University in Edmonton.

Burrows has been the head coach of the University of Regina Cougars men's team since 2013.

Lovelace starred with the University of Saskatchewan Huskies, was an assistant coach there and also was the president of Basketball Saskatchewan board of directors in 2023-24.

Magdanz said there's a big difference in coaching in a pro league as opposed to university.

"It's what can you do for us now, and what can you do for us over these next 24 games," Magdanz said.

"We're dealing with adults. This is their career, this is their profession. So that holds a lot of weight in our decision-making."

Rattlers general manager Barry Rawlick said the level of coaching in the province continues to get better.

"The depth of the pool of coaches that are able to teach the game well has grown significantly," Rawlick said, adding it also gives the team some stability.

"You want to try and build a culture and when you're starting from scratch every year, that's very difficult."

Magdanz said coaches from Canada, and Saskatchewan, are making their mark across the world.

"The Egyptian national team coach was Canadian, both German national team coaches are Canadian, including our very own Lisa Thomaidis," Magdanz said, referring to the the U of S women's basketball coach who led the Huskies to a national championship this year.

He said Briercrest has won the a junior college title, and Humboldt's Paige Cozens represented Canada at the Olympics in three-on-three basketball

"So for a province here of a million people, we hold our own very well."

Lovelace began as a colour analyst on Rattler broadcasts, but then transitioned to being on the bench coaching a couple of years ago.

He credits the people that coached him with helping elevate his skills.

"We do a good job through our Basketball Saskatchewan program of getting our coaches trained and wanting to grow the game, grow our coaches," said Lovelace, adding this will this year's edition of the Rattlers will have a different look.

"I think we've got a good plan going forward, so I'm excited for it."

Magdanz said the focus will be looking after the defensive side of the ball.

"We're going to be a defence first team that gets up and down the court and plays hard," Magdanz said.

"I know from the players that we have signed, they're excited to be here and excited to lead us to a championship."