New coach gives athletes new perspective

Reported by Mathilda de Villiers 

The Langara Falcons women’s basketball team is beginning their season with a new coach and a fresh perspective.

Curtis Nelson, the new head coach, said he is excited to be part of the Langara Falcons team.

Strategies

His method of coaching involves focusing on improving each day, instead of setting a goal to win a number of games in a season. “I always think a proper team, one that’s successful, is going to be greater than the sum of their individual parts,” Nelson said.

Patti Olsen, one of the assistant coaches on the team, played at Douglas College for five years and had Nelson as a coach for the last year of her college basketball career. This will be her first year as an assistant coach and says that she shares similar points of view and coaching philosophies. “We share the same vision and want all the players to succeed off and on the court,” she said.

Team focuses on community work

Ainsleigh Mensah is a veteran college basketball player, this year being her fifth year playing. Previously, she played at Douglas College for four years, where Nelson coached before he came to Langara College. This will be their third year working together.

“It’s an opportunity that I didn’t ever think I would have again,” Mensah said.

Doing more in the community is something that the team is going to focus on, Mensah said.

One of the things the team offers is coaching clinics for younger players where they get to meet players and coaches.

“Maybe they’ll come out to one of our games and support us that way,” Mensah said.

The Falcons will open their 2018-2019 PacWest season on Friday, Nov. 2 against the Douglas College Royals.