WINNIPEG, MB – University of Winnipeg Wesmen Men’s Basketball Coach Dave Crook stepped aside today as head coach of the team. Grant Richter takes over on an interim basis for the remainder of the 2009-2010 Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) season.
Crook gave up his coaching duties with the best interests of the Wesmen program in mind. The Wesmen, presently 0-11 in Canada West Conference play, have an overall record of 2-18 this season. The team has lost its last 16 games.
“This was a difficult decision for Dave to make,” said Athletic Director Doran Reid. “For the sake of the team he felt it was time to make a change. Dave remains committed to the Wesmen program and will continue to lend his expertise and experience in assisting the University to move forward with its athletics and recreation programming.”
Crook will take on new duties within the Department of Kinesiology and the Department of Athletics. Reid will begin an immediate and wide search for a new head coach of the men’s basketball team.
Crook, a Winnipegger who graduated from Elmwood High School, began coaching the Wesmen as an assistant under Bruce Enns. After positions with Mount Allison and Lethbridge, Crook returned to Winnipeg to become the Wesmen Head Coach in the 2001-2002 season. This year marked his 9th campaign as Wesmen head coach and his 26th year of coaching.
Richter is a 20-year coaching veteran who is presently the head coach of The University of Winnipeg Collegiate Varsity Boys’ Team. A University of Winnipeg graduate and an assistant coach with the Wesmen from 1992-1998 under Bill Wedlake, Richter also has five years of professional basketball coaching experience with the Winnipeg Cyclone as an assistant to both Bill Klucas and Darryl Dawkins along with one year as Head Coach.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Doran Reid, Athletic Director, The University of Winnipeg
P: 204.786.9817, E: d.reid@uwinnipeg.ca
