Calgary Surge Announce Nelson Terroba as Team's First Head Coach
March 29, 2023 – Nelson Terroba, current Associate Head Coach for the Texas Legends of the NBA G League, will be the Calgary Surge’s first Head Coach, the team announced Wednesday.
Hiring a Head Coach was the final piece of the puzzle for the Surge as they prepare to begin their inaugural season at WinSport Event Centre on May 27, 2023. This hire rounds out the Surge’s basketball operations staff for the year.
“We are thrilled to have Nelson Terroba as our Head Coach. He brings a wealth of knowledge and experience at the professional level and is a culture builder. Those attributes are extremely important in building a winning franchise. Nelson is also a phenomenal teacher of the game and I know our players will greatly benefit from his knowledge and skills,” said Surge General Manager, Shane James.
Texas native Nelson Terroba is no stranger to the Canadian Elite Basketball League. He served as Lead Assistant Coach for the Saskatchewan Rattlers in April 2020. Prior to his time with the Rattlers, Nelson served as General Manager and Head Coach for the Saint John Riptide of the National Basketball League of Canada. The Riptide qualified for the playoffs in both years he was with the team. During his tenure, he also led the Riptide to first and second place finishes in the league’s overall defensive rankings.
“Nelson is one of the most committed individuals in this industry whom I’ve had the pleasure of working with over the years. He is a lifelong learner and student of the game of basketball. His skill set will immensely benefit the Calgary Surge in their inaugural season. Coaching a team has its challenges, but Nelson’s elite communication skills, passion and knowledge are what make him one of the best. The Calgary Surge are lucky to have a coach like him running their program,” said Chicago Bulls Assistant Coach, John Bryant.
As Associate Head Coach for the Texas Legends, the NBA G League affiliate of the Dallas Mavericks, Terroba aided the Legends in qualifying for the playoffs as the #5 seed in the 2021-2022 season. He also served as Interim Head Coach in Round 1 of the NBA G League Playoffs, leading the Legends to their first playoff win in team history against the Birmingham Squadron.
“To be trusted with the responsibility of being the inaugural Head Coach of the Calgary Surge is both an honour and a privilege. Throughout the hiring process, I felt a connection and commitment from the organization to doing things the right way. There’s a clear vision from the top down outlining our commitment to our players, staff, fans and all four corners of the city. I am looking forward to working with our entire staff to build a team that Calgary is proud to call its own — a team that plays tough, smart and is connected on both sides of the ball,” said Surge Head Coach, Nelson Terroba.
About the Calgary Surge
The Calgary franchise originated as the Guelph Nighthawks in 2018, one of the six founding members of the CEBL. The organization was relocated from the league’s smallest market to Calgary in August 2022 as part of the growing league's business strategy to have teams in Canada’s largest metropolitan areas. Chairman Usman Tahir Jutt and Vice-Chairman and President Jason Ribeiro saw an opportunity to bridge Calgary’s diverse communities together through sport and entertainment and to create a sense of belonging. For more information, visit www.calgarysurge.ca.
About the Canadian Elite Basketball League (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 roster being Canadian. Players bring experience from the NBA, NBA G League, top international pro leagues, the Canadian National team program, top NCAA programs, and 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 to August. More information about the CEBL is available at CEBL.ca and @cebleague on Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook & YouTube.