The Calgary Surge has welcomed both a new head coach, and a milestone for the Canadian Elite Basketball League, with former Portland Trail Blazers head coach Kaleb Canales joining the team.
Canales, who more recently has been serving as the associate head coach of the Texas Legends, was the youngest ever head coach in the NBA and the first Mexican-American coach in the league’s history.
“I am honoured to join the Calgary Surge, an organization whose commitment to excellence and core values align with my own. Throughout this entire recruitment process, the basketball operations leadership of the Surge was among the best I’ve encountered in professional basketball,” said Canales.
“Thank you to the city of Calgary for welcoming my family and I with open arms. Our coaching staff and our players will build on the success of two straight Championship Weekend appearances and look to get the job done in year three.”
As a development league for basketball talent in Canada, Calgary Surge General Manager Shane James said that recruitment of coaches is different that in other leagues.
“We could not be more excited to have such an experienced and talented individual like Coach Canales join our team this season. Rosters in the CEBL experience substantial turnover each season and that has emboldened our organization to approach coaching recruitment quite
differently than other teams.”
The Surge said that in addition to serving in roles in both the NBA and NBA G League, Canales has been dedicated to growing the game of basketball internationally through NBA’s Basketball Without Borders and as the Associate Head Coach of the Mexican Men’s National Team.
Damian Lillard, NBA All Star and NBA Rookie of the Year in 2012, was among the players who were coached by Canales.
“Playing for [Coach Canales] was great for me as I entered the league because of how genuine he is as a man first. The support, the challenges, the direction, the love, the care, the time, and the belief really meant a lot to me as I transitioned [into the NBA].”
The Surge’s third season begins on May 11, with their first home game at WinSport on May 25.
For more details, see www.calgarysurge.ca.
