The RDC Queens basketball squad is heading in a new direction.
After two years with the program, and taking it to the brink of the playoffs, Mike Woollard won’t be back.
Ken King, who spent the last couple of seasons as an assistant coach with the Laurentian University Voyageurs men’s basketball team, has been hired.
“We had to re-advertise Mike’s position again this year and Ken’s resume stood out,” said RDC director of athletics Keith Hansen. “We’re pleased to welcome Ken to the department and we’re looking forward to what he will bring to the Queens basketball program.
“He’s a young coach with a variety of basketball experience and we think he will be an ideal fit with this team.
“We want to thank Mike for what he did for the college and the basketball program and wish him all the best.”
King, who has a master’s degree in Human Kinetics, has been coaching for close to 10 years.
“I started coaching a couple of teams when I was in high school while at the same time playing on the senior team,” said King, who was a six-foot-six power forward.
The native of Oshawa, King played high school in Sudbury and later tried out for the Voyageurs.
“I played briefly there, but was always interested in coaching,” he explained. “I coached in high school and with club teams as well as with the Voyageurs.”
King has coached both boys and girls. Recently he coached the U19 boys team in Sudbury and was head coach for the North U16 talent I.D. development camp for Ontario Basketball.
“I’ve coached talent I.D. camps at pretty much every level,” he said. “I’ve coached mostly guys, but have coached girls and feel success at the women’s level borders on what you see from the men. It melds together.”
Moving to Alberta will be a new experience for King, who is looking forward to it.
“It will be different for sure, but I’ve heard a lot about Red Deer College and I’m excited. I looked everywhere and what made RDC unique is it’s tradition and coaching. I’ve heard about the hockey program and of course the men’s and women’s volleyball and Kings basketball. Looking at it, it’s right up my alley.”
King is expecting to come to Red Deer in July to run a camp and will move to Central Alberta full time in August.
“I would like as many of the returning players and recruits to come to the July camp and anyone else who may still be interested in coming out,” he explained.
King indicated the RDC athletic department has him up to speed on what to expect and he will be contacting all the veteran players and recruits as soon as possible.
“I’m in the process of talking with everyone in both groups,” he said. “I also have some contacts in Ontario, and will keep those lines open.”
Although he never coached at the college level, it’s no stranger to him.
“I watched both CCAA (Canadian Colleges Athletic Association) national finals last year and I’ve tried to watch as much game film as possible on the Alberta league,” he said. “I certainly want to be competitive next season.”