Joe Raso, recognized as one of the leading coaches and international scouts in Canadian basketball history, was named Director, Basketball Operations by the Canadian Elite Basketball League on Tuesday. He will lead the league's player procurement program both domestically and internationally, oversee the CEBL Draft, direct team and player compliance issues, supervise officiating, and play a lead role in the CEBL's relationships with FIBA, Canada Basketball, other basketball bodies, and with player agents.
'To retain someone of Joe Raso's stature to lead basketball operations is a landmark addition for the Canadian Elite Basketball League, and reflects exceptionally well on what our league has done in only five months of existence and where we're heading,' said Mike Morreale, the league's Chief Executive Officer. 'For more than 35 years Joe has been recognized for his contributions and achievements at every level of basketball around the world. As we continue to create Canada's preeminent national league for basketball, and look forward to beginning play next May, we are thrilled to have Joe serving as director of basketball operations.'
A resident of Hamilton, Ontario, Raso is the all-time winningest coach in McMaster University history, and one of the most successful coaches in CIS/U SPORTS history, compiling 389 wins against only 155 losses (a .715 winning percentage) in 18 seasons, including 17 seasons with 20 or more wins with the Marauders. He currently serves as Head Scout with the Canadian Men's National team, and is an advance scout with the NBA's Atlanta Hawks, Brooklyn Nets, and Denver Nuggets. Last season Raso served as head coach and general manager of the Niagara River Lions, leading the team to its first-ever playoff victory before the franchise moved up from the NBL to join the CEBL.
'I am very happy to be on board with the CEBL, and joining a winning and dedicated professional league that is building a legacy for a game that means so much to me,' Raso said. 'The CEBL is going to be an entertaining league that allows Canadian fans nationally the opportunity to enjoy professional basketball that will include Canadian and international talent playing together in great facilities. The development of this league, with its solid corporate administration and commitment to entertainment and the development or basketball, is very important to me.
'Basketball, in my opinion, is the most inclusive sport in Canada in both participation and fan base,' Raso added. 'It is important to me that I'm involved in a league that has both a national vision, and a shared view of development with our national and international governing bodies.'
Raso has been a national and international consultant, clinician, committee member, speaker, and basketball analyst during the past 25 years. A former National team assistant coach for four years, he has coached in World Championships and Olympic qualifiers, and has coached some of Canada's greatest players, including NBA two-time Most Valuable Player and Hall of Fame inductee Steve Nash. Raso's basketball resume includes four OUA titles, 12 CIS National Championship tournament appearances that resulted in four Silver medals, and being named OUA Coach of the Year six times. He produced five 'All Canadian' players and two National Player of the Year winners while leading McMaster.
An alum of both McMaster and Brock universities who started his university coaching career at the University of Guelph in 1983, Raso has been instrumental in developing basketball at the grassroots level. He is a former Technical Directory with the World International Children's Games, and his Hamilton, Ontario teams won international Gold, Silver, and Bronze medals at those Games. As a high school teacher for 32 years, he coached St. Mary's high school in Hamilton to an OFSAA championship in 1991, and represented Canada at the Albert Schweitzer Tournament in Germany, the top international junior tournament in the world. He has served as director of the Joe Raso High School Basketball Camp since 1999, and as director of Focus on Youth Basketball Camp in Hamilton since 2009.
Raso was founder and developer of 'Basketball vs Bullying', which became the largest anti-bullying seminar in the world and holds the Canadian record for the most attended university basketball game in Canada's history. He was awarded the YMCA National Peace Award in 2006 for that initiative. In 2008 he developed and co-directed 'Hoops Against Hate 'Faces of Racism'', an interactive experience for high school students using basketball to deliver a message of anti-racism.
The inaugural season of the CEBL tips off in May 2019 and runs through August with teams in Hamilton, Niagara, Guelph, Saskatoon, Abbotsford, and Edmonton. Teams will play 20 regular season games, including 10 at home. Deposits on priority season tickets are being accepted now by each team, with season seats going on sale later this fall.
Further information may be obtained at: www.cebl.ca
CEBL BECOMES OFFICIAL FIRST DIVISION PROFESSIONAL LEAGUE PARTNER OF CANADA BASKETBALL - 8 days ago
HAMILTON, Ont. - Canada Basketball and the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) announced Thursday a collaboration that establishes the CEBL as the 'Official First Division Professional League Partner of Canada Basketball.' The partnership formally makes the CEBL a Division 1 League of Canada Basketball, adhering to official FIBA rules and regulations for the play and officiating of its games. Mutual benefits come in shared resources focused on the development of players, coaches, gam... [read more]
HAMILTON, Ont. - Canada Basketball and the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) announced Thursday a collaboration that establishes the CEBL as the 'Official First Division Professional League Partner of Canada Basketball.' The partnership formally makes the CEBL a Division 1 League of Canada Basketball, adhering to official FIBA rules and regulations for the play and officiating of its games.
Mutual benefits come in shared resources focused on the development of players, coaches, game officials, and community engagement and marketing opportunities. 'We are very pleased to welcome the Canadian Elite Basketball League as an official partner of Canada Basketball,' said Glen Grunwald, President and Chief Executive Officer of Canada Basketball.
'Under the leadership of Mike Morreale and Richard Petko, the CEBL has proven to be committed to operating with high professional standards that align with those of Canada Basketball and FIBA. It is a league created by Canadians for Canadians. Aligning with the CEBL to achieve our mission of developing Canadian basketball will greatly benefit players, coaches, officials, and fans of our sport as we continue to work to grow the game domestically.'
The CEBL will operate in accordance with the player and referee standards set by Canada Basketball, the National Sport Organization for basketball in Canada. It will be the professional league in Canada designated with an affiliation with FIBA, the international governing body for basketball. Beginning in 2019 with franchises in Hamilton, Niagara (St. Catharines), Guelph, Edmonton, Saskatchewan (Saskatoon), and Fraser Valley (Abbotsford), the inaugural season of the league opens in May and runs through August of 2019.
'Partnering with Canada Basketball to help grow our sport across this country is an honour that we're very excited about,' said Morreale, Chief Executive Officer of the CEBL. 'I would like to thank Glen Grunwald and his team for their support of the CEBL, and their commitment to joining us to further enhance Canada's emerging role as a world leader in developing exceptional basketball talent. Canada Basketball joins blue chip companies such as New Era, Ticketmaster, and others that will be announced shortly as partners that have joined the CEBL movement across this country.
It seems like we say this almost weekly, but this is a landmark agreement for our league that further strengthens our ability to deliver world class basketball across Canada.' With a mission to aspire to excellence in leading the growth and development of the game at home, and in pursuing medal performances on the international stage, Canada Basketball celebrated as the Senior Men's National Team defeated Brazil on Monday to qualify for the FIBA Basketball World Cup, to be held in China, August 31 to September 15, 2019. It marks the 14 th time Canada has qualified for the World Cup.
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About Canada Basketball
Canada Basketball is the National Sporting Organization for the sport of Basketball in Canada. Canada Basketball is respected worldwide and is recognized by the International Amateur Basketball Federation (FIBA) and the Government of Canada as the sole governing body of the sport of amateur basketball in Canada. Canada Basketball, a not-for-profit organization, represents all basketball interests, provides leadership, coordination and direction in all areas of the sport of basketball. Visit basketball.ca for more information.
The Canadian Elite Basketball League announced Tuesday that international sports and lifestyle brand New Era Cap Co Inc. will be the Official On-Court Partner providing all on-court apparel and product for its six member clubs. The partnership is a five-year agreement running through the 2023 season. The professional basketball league opens its inaugural season in May 2019 in Edmonton, Hamilton, Guelph, Saskatchewan (Saskatoon), Niagara (St. Catharines), and Fraser Valley (Abbotsford). M... [read more]
The Canadian Elite Basketball League announced Tuesday that international sports and lifestyle brand New Era Cap Co Inc. will be the Official On-Court Partner providing all on-court apparel and product for its six member clubs. The partnership is a five-year agreement running through the 2023 season. The professional basketball league opens its inaugural season in May 2019 in Edmonton, Hamilton, Guelph, Saskatchewan (Saskatoon), Niagara (St. Catharines), and Fraser Valley (Abbotsford).
Merchandise is available now for all six teams at www.cebl.ca, and at the team websites: www.therattlers.ca; www.riverlions.ca; www.thebandits.ca; www.thenighthawks.ca; www.honeybadgers.ca; and www.thestingers.ca.
'The CEBL is honoured to partner with New Era, a company that has decades of history as a supplier to sports teams and leagues around the world,' said Mike Morreale, Chief Executive Officer of the CEBL. 'The CEBL is all about delivering world class basketball in a new way, and this partnership exemplifies that as we are the first basketball league for which New Era will be the provider of official game jerseys and other courtside apparel.
'Our nicknames and distinctive logos have been received very positively around the world,' Morreale added. 'When our uniforms are unveiled next spring we anticipate a high level of enthusiasm. In the meantime, we're excited to begin to roll out New Era caps, t-shirts, polos, and other items.'
'This is the first time New Era Cap will be featured on a basketball court with uniforms and sideline apparel in addition to our line of fan gear and headwear that blends sports with lifestyle,' said Rick Baetz, Managing Director, Canada at New Era Cap. 'The CEBL is all about delivering world class basketball in a new way, and we're excited to develop unique uniforms, apparel and headwear that will support the spirit of this new league.'
A national league created by Canadians for Canadians, CEBL rosters will be comprised predominately of Canadians playing professionally during the traditional basketball season, along with international players and players drafted out of U Sports programs. Each game day will feature a full slate of entertainment offerings before, during and after games. Teams will play 20 games, 10 at home and 10 on the road, during the 2019 season, starting in May and culminating in a four-team championship tournament to be held at a location to be announced this winter.
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ABOUT NEW ERA CAP:
New Era Cap Co., Inc. is an international lifestyle brand with an authentic sports heritage that dates back over 90 years. Best known for being the official on-field cap for Major League Baseball and the National Football League, New Era Cap is the brand of choice not only for its headwear collection, but also for its accessories and apparel lines for men, women and youth. The brand is worn as a symbol of self-expression by athletes, artists and some of the most interesting people around the globe. New Era Cap encourages people to truly express their personal style and individuality through its products. The Company is headquartered in Buffalo, NY and operates facilities in Canada, Europe, Mexico, Brazil, Australia, South Korea, Japan, China and Hong Kong.
The Guelph Nighthawks Professional Basketball Club is excited to announce Tarry Upshaw as its Head Coach and General Manager for the 2019 Canadian Elite Basketball League season. Coach Upshaw joins the Guelph Nighthawks following a decorated professional career that has taken him from North America to Europe, Asia and the Caribbean. Having both played and coached at the University of Guelph, Tarry brings with him the unique combination of ties to the local basketball community and a str... [read more]
The Guelph Nighthawks Professional Basketball Club is excited to announce Tarry Upshaw as its Head Coach and General Manager for the 2019 Canadian Elite Basketball League season.
Coach Upshaw joins the Guelph Nighthawks following a decorated professional career that has taken him from North America to Europe, Asia and the Caribbean. Having both played and coached at the University of Guelph, Tarry brings with him the unique combination of ties to the local basketball community and a strong professional resume that will lead the Nighthawks basketball operations department in 2019.
Tarry Upshaw Bio:
Coach Tarry Upshaw started his collegiate playing career as a member of the University of Guelph men's basketball program during a period that the team's home court was infamously known as the House of Slam. Following his collegiate career Upshaw transitioned into the coaching ranks as an Assistant Coach of the men's basketball program at the University of Guelph from 1991-1997.
In 1999 Tarry became Head Coach of the Georgian College men's basketball program. During his seven seasons at Georgian Coach Upshaw was nationally ranked with 5 OCAA Final Eight appearances.
At a professional level Tarry's coaching career has taken him to Europe, Asia and the Caribbean where he has coached Skatligrimur Basketball Club in Iceland, the Sagesse Basketball Club in Lebanon, the Hong Kong National Basketball Team, the Jamaican U18 National Team and consulted with the 2004 and 2006 Asian Games. With Sagesse Tarry led his club to the ultimate club prize as champions of the Lebanon Basketball Cup, Arab Club Championship and FIBA Asian Club Championship.
At present, Tarry is the Director of Basketball and OSBA Head Coach for Ridley College in St. Catharines, ON.
About the Canadian Elite Basketball League:
The Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) is a professional basketball league with six teams located across Canada, starting play in May, 2019. The league will run a 20-game regular season schedule, in addition to a Championship Weekend in August, 2019. The CEBL will provide sports fans with premium entertainment while also allowing players, coaches and stakeholders the opportunity to engage in the sport of basketball in meaningful ways that support the growth of the game in Canada. The CEBL will operate in accordance with the player and referee standards set by Canada Basketball and will adhere to the International Basketball Federation's (FIBA) rules and regulations. For updates and more information, please visit www.cebl.ca.
About the Guelph Nighthawks Professional Basketball Club:
The Guelph Nighthawks are one of six founding teams in the CEBL. The club are active members in the city, sharing our resources, building our community and coming together as one around the game of basketball. The Nighthawks will play its home games at the Sleeman Centre, convenienty located in the heart of downtown Guelph. The club will provide fans with a new sport entertainment experience in Guelph, encouraging Nighthawks Nation to come downtown early, wear their team colours, enjoy one of the many restaurant patios and partake in the vibrancy of downtown Guelph. Inside the Sleeman Centre the team will not only put on an incredible show, but game nights will be highlighted by a unique blend of entertainment for both the passionate basketball fan and those looking for local, affordable entertainment. The experience will include true courtside seating, the sights and sounds of DJ's and cheer squads, and floor-level social spaces. For more information, please visit www.thenighthawks.ca.
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