Roy Rana named Senior Team Head Coach
Canada Basketball announces Roy Rana as head coach of the Senior Men’s Basketball team for the upcoming FIBA Americup 2017 and the first two World Cup 2019 qualifying matches.
Rana has proven himself on the college level with Ryerson University and most recently on the national team level with the U19 Canadian Men’s National Team.
Under Rana’s coaching, Canada won a historic gold medal this past July at the FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup 2017 in Cairo, Egypt.
Coach Rana has been an integral part of revamping the Ryerson Rams basketball program. During his eight-year career with the Rams, he has led them to silver (2017) and bronze (2015) medals at the U Sports national championships.
“It is once again an incredible honour to have the opportunity and responsibility to lead our country into international competition,” said Roy Rana. “I look forward to building on the incredible momentum of this summer and continue to play my part in building a special experience of success at the Senior Men’s National Team level.”
Rana has a rich history of winning even prior to his current coaching roles. With nine seasons with Eastern Commerce Collegiate Institute in Toronto, Eastern became the first team in Ontario history to win four consecutive provincial championships.
The Canadian head coach also spent time with the San Antonio Spurs in the NBA Summer League, winning the 2015 championship.
Jay Triano is going to serve as head coach of the Senior Men’s National Team program and will also travel with the team to Argentina for the AmeriCup from Aug. 25 to Sept. 3.
“With different players stepping up at different times to help us qualify we are going to need different coaches to step up as well,” Triano said in the release. “Roy has been a big part of our program, and with the success this summer he is a natural fit to lead us during the NBA season.”
After the FIBA AmeriCup 2017, Canada will begin their march towards a World Cup berth in the American Qualifiers. The 16 nations compete for seven spots at the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 in China.
Canada is in Group D with Bahamas, Dominican Republic and the United States Virgin Islands. Each country will compete against the other three teams on a home and away basis. Canada is hosting the first game on Nov. 24, 2017 against Bahamas in Halifax, NS.
Canada is currently ranked eighth in the Americas and 24th in the world.
