ST. JOHN’S, NL – The Newfoundland Growlers Basketball Club are proud to announce that longtime St. FX Head Coach and former Canadian men’s national team Head Coach Steve Konchalski has been named Senior Advisor of Basketball Operations ahead of the club’s inaugural season in the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) beginning in 2022.
Konchalski, a native of Elmhurst, New York, made a name for himself in the Canadian basketball scene as the Head Coach of St. Francis Xavier University in Antigonish, Nova Scotia from 1975 to 2021.
A fixture in Canadian basketball, Konchalski is excited to take his talents to the Rock to help tip off the next chapter of professional basketball in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador.
“I’m thrilled for the opportunity to help guide the next crop of Canadian professional basketball talent and grow the basketball community in St. John’s,” Konchalski said.
“There’s a great sporting culture in the province and I’m excited to be a part of it.”
Deacon Sports and Entertainment’s owner Dean MacDonald believes Konchalski’s rich experience at all levels of Canadian basketball can help make the Growlers a championship contender sooner rather than later.
“One look at his resumé tells you everything you need to know,” MacDonald exclaimed.
“Between success at the university and national levels, we are confident that we have the right person in place to help the Growlers find success in the very early stages.”
During his tenure at St. FX, he led the X-Men to 13 National Tournament appearances, including three National Championships 1993, 2000, and 2001. He also earned CIS Coach of the Year honours during the 2001 championship season. His 919 career victories remain the most all-time in Canadian basketball history.
Konchalski’s success extends well beyond the Canadian university court. He first began his tenure with the Canadian National Team as the Lead Assistant under FIBA Hall of Famer Jack Donohue in 1973. He remained in the position until 1988, helping Canada’s best players find success on the world stage, including fourth-place finishes at the 1976 and 1984 Olympic Games and a gold medal at the 1983 World University Games.
He took the reins of the Canadian National Team as Head Coach in 1995 and remained in the position until 1998, navigating the squad through Olympic and World Championship qualifiers before breaking through with a gold medal victory at the 1996 William Jones Cup in Taiwan.
As the Mentor Coach for the Development Teams of the Canada Basketball Council of Excellence from 2009 to 2015, Konchalski guided Canada’s youngest and brightest stars to a variety of international successes, culminating with a gold medal victory at the Junior Men’s World Championships in Egypt in 2017.
For his lifetime of achievements and success in the basketball world, Konchalski has been enshrined in the St. Francis Xavier and Acadia University Halls of Fame, the Nova Scotia Sports Hall of Fame, and the Canadian Basketball Hall of Fame.
Season ticket deposits for the Growlers inaugural season at the Field House are on sale now at growlersbasketball.ca fans are kindly asked to call (709) 999-2814 or email [email protected] for any questions or ticket related inquiries.
The CEBL is preparing for its fourth season starting May 2022 along with the inclusion of three new teams, the Scarborough Shooting Stars, Montreal Alliance, and the Newfoundland Growlers. The league saw record success in 2021 as millions of viewers across Canada and around the world tuned in to games via CEBL+, CBC television, CBC Gem, and in-person in all home arenas. It became the first professional sports league in Canada to return to play with fans in its venues in 2021.
About the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL)
A league created by Canadians for Canadians, the CEBL has the highest percentage of Canadian players of any professional league in the country, with 75 percent of its rosters being Canadians during the first three seasons. Players have experience in the NBA, NBA G League, top international leagues, the Canadian National team program, and top NCAA and U SPORTS programs. The CEBL uses FIBA (International Basketball Federation) rules, and player and referee standards set by its partner, Canada Basketball. The CEBL became the first professional basketball league in the world to use the Elam Ending in FIBA competition when it incorporated the innovative conclusion into all of its games during the 2020 CEBL Summer Series. Games are live-streamed via CEBL+, CBC TV, and CBC Gem. Head to cebl.ca or follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook to learn more.