Today on the Basketball Manitoba Podcast, we have Megan Noonan.
She is a graduate of Fort Richmond Collegiate and played four summers with the Manitoba Provincial Team. She was ranked in the Top 10 and was named an All-Manitoban in her grade 12 year.
She went on to have a five-year career with the University of Winnipeg Wesmen, where she was a three-time co-captain and a two-time Canada West All-Star, winning a Bronze Medal at the Canada West Final Four. She still ranks among the all-time leaders in three-pointers made in Canada West history.
She returned to Fort Richmond as head coach of the varsity girls' team, leading them to a divisional championship and earning MHSAA Coach of the Year honours in 2020.
She has coached at multiple levels, including head coach of the 17U Female Provincial Team in 2018, TAP South program, U15 Evolve Girls Program and the Mini Ballers grassroots program.
She is currently an assistant coach with the University of Winnipeg Wesmen, mentor coach for the 15U girls provincial team and serves as the Director of Operations for the Winnipeg Sea Bears.
Today on the Basketball Manitoba Podcast, we have Norm Froemel.
He is a graduate of J.H. Bruns Collegiate. He played 2 years on the Manitoba Provincial Teams, winning two Bronze Medals.
He went on to play at the University of Winnipeg for 5 years. There, he was a 3-time GPAC All-Star and a 1-time All-Canadian, averaging 23 points per game in his final season, and is the all-time leading rebounder in Wesmen history.
He represented Canada on numerous occasions at the national level in Argentina, Malaysia, Taiwan, and the United States, winning a silver medal at the World Student Games in Buffalo, New York, in 1993.
He also had a very successful professional career in Germany, where he played for seven years in the Bundesliga Division 1.
After retiring, he returned to Winnipeg to give back as a coach and mentor. He returned to his alma mater, J.H. Bruns, as a teacher and coach. He has also coached with the Manitoba Provincial Team for two years.
He is a member of the Manitoba Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2013.
He is currently coaching grade 8 girls at Samuel Burland School and is a WMBA Board member.
Today, on the Basketball Manitoba Podcast, we have Kelli Sinnock.
She is a Graduate of Fort Richmond Collegiate and has been coaching basketball for over 20 years. Coaching Basketball camps, community, club, Junior high, high school, and provincial team levels.
She’s been the Varsity Girls' Basketball Coach at Sanford Collegiate since 2008 and is deeply involved in developing grassroots basketball in rural Manitoba.
Throughout her coaching career, Kelli has been involved with a wide range of programs, such as the Jr. Bisons, junior high teams, Legion Athletic Camps, and the Manitoba Provincial Team.
She founded the Mini and Junior Sabres Programs, as well as playing a key role in the creation of the TAP South. She was named the Basketball Manitoba AAA Coach of the Year and Grey Cup Legacy Female High School Coach of the Year for 2024.
Currently serving as an assistant coach with the Manitoba Provincial Team 17U Female program, preparing to represent the province at the 2025 Canada Games in St. John’s, Newfoundland.
Today on the Basketball Manitoba Podcast, we have Marlin Kraus.
He has been involved in basketball since 1991. He is a graduate of Sisler High School, where he made it to the final four in his grade 11 year, and in his grade 12 year, he was ranked the number two player in the province. He played 3 years on the Manitoba Provincial Team program.
He then went on to play at the University of Winnipeg Wesmen for two years. After graduating, he moved into coaching.
He has coached at the Community, High school, Club, and provincial team levels, working with the Jr Bisons, Niverville, and Sturgeon Heights Collegiate, as well as the U15 and U17 Boys Provincial Team programs.
He also served on the executive board of the Jr Bisons Basketball club and was a co-developer of the JRB Elite Program.
He is the founder, current head coach, and president of the Legacy Preparatory Basketball Academy program. He is a current member of the Basketball Manitoba Board of Directors.
Today on the Basketball Manitoba Podcast, we are pleased to present our second Special Edition Episode, a curated collection of invaluable advice, insights, and philosophies from some of the most respected basketball minds in Manitoba’s history.
Over the years, we've had the privilege of sitting down with dozens of coaches who have helped shape the landscape of basketball in our province. In this episode, we revisit some of the most impactful moments from past interviews — all focused on one common theme: coaching excellence.
Whether you're a seasoned veteran on the sidelines, a new coach just starting your journey, or simply a fan of the game, this episode offers a wide range of perspectives on what it takes to succeed as a leader in basketball. You'll hear about:
These segments are pulled from interviews with many of Manitoba's most successful and influential coaches — individuals who have not only found success on the scoreboard but have also made a lasting impact on the lives of their players and communities.
Tune in, take notes, and be inspired. This is a celebration of the coaches who continue to elevate the game in Manitoba and beyond.
Today on the Basketball Manitoba podcast, we have Jeff Laping.
A graduate of St. Paul’s High School, he has been involved with the school’s basketball program since 1995 and has coached the varsity boys since 2000.
He has led the Crusaders to five conference championships, 12 final four appearances, and four provincial championships.
Under his leadership, St. Paul’s has produced 25 Canadian college or USports level players.
He has served as an assistant coach with the University of Manitoba Bisons and has coached multiple provincial teams and with Canada Basketball’s Centre for Performance.
He is the former president of the Manitoba Basketball Coaches Association and has received numerous accolades, including AAAA Boys Coach of the Year in 2009 and 2014, and the Peter Dyck Award for Coaching Excellence in 2010.
Today on the Basketball Manitoba Podcast, we have Joel Themmen.
He has been a staple in the Basketball Community for over 30 years. He is a graduate of Kildonan East Collegiate and then went on to play basketball at the University of Manitoba for 3 years.
He coached high school for 11 years at Kildonan East, Sisler, Miles Mac and Fort Richmond. He coached the Manitoba Provincial Team as an assistant coach 6 times and a head coach once.
He’s been an assistant coach with the University of Manitoba Bisons Men’s and Women’s teams for 6 seasons and was an assistant at Red River College for 6 years. He was on the coaching staff with the Winnipeg Cyclone for 1 year.
Currently, he is an Assistant Coach with Scott Martin at Canadian Mennonite University, a role he’s held for 6 years. He was also a Basketball Manitoba board member for 2 years.
Today, on the Basketball Manitoba Podcast, we have Martha Bradbury.
She has been an official in Manitoba for over 25 years at all levels of the game. She graduated from Nelson High School in Burlington, Ontario, where she was named athlete of the year.
She played basketball and volleyball and competed in track and field, where she held an Ontario record for the high jump for 10 years. She went on to graduate from the University of Manitoba.
She was a U SPORTS / CIS official for over 22 years and officiated the U SPORTS Nationals four times. She officiated at the Canada Basketball National Championships five times and was a Referee Coach at nationals 8 times. She is currently the Manitoba Provincial Supervisor and Board Member for the Manitoba Association of Basketball Officials (MABO).
She is currently one of MABO’s lead clinicians and evaluators and represented the Canadian Basketball Officials Commission on the Jr. NBA Canadian Leadership Council.
Today, on the Basketball Manitoba Podcast, we have Earl Roberts.
He played high school basketball at Humberside Collegiate and Runnymede Collegiate in Toronto. He then went on to play at Brandon University.
There, he was a 5-year starter and helped Brandon go to the National Tournament 3 times, securing two bronze medals and a silver in 1984
He is a two-time GPAC All-Star and is a Brandon University Dick and Verda McDonald Sports Wall of Fame member. He’s a Manitoba Basketball Hall of Fame member, Class of 2005
Beyond his playing days, he has dedicated over 30 years to officiating basketball at various levels, including local, provincial, and U SPORTS national competitions, 3 times, and has been an official of the Canadian Elite Basketball League.
Most recently, he has been a member of the Pathway to Excellence committee, whose mission is to develop up-and-coming officials to become U SPORTS and International officials.
Today, on the Basketball Manitoba Podcast, we have Ilarion Bonhomme, the current head coach of the Brandon Bobcats women’s program.
He played high school basketball at Cardozo High School in Washington, DC.
He played at Brandon University for three years and was named Canada West Rookie of the Year. He transferred to play his last two years with the University of Manitoba Bisons and helped the program return to excellence, earning their first trip to nationals in 30 years after securing a silver medal in the Canada West playoffs in 2018
He then played internationally in Norway, Australia, Sweden, Ukraine, Spain, and the United Kingdom for six seasons.
In 2024, he retired from playing and was named the Head Coach of the Brandon University Women’s Basketball Team.
Today, on the Basketball Manitoba Podcast, we have Sara Gillis. Sara has been a cornerstone of basketball in Manitoba for over 40 years, contributing as a player, coach, official, and advocate for the game. Her basketball journey began in Brandon, where she played for Earl Oxford Junior High and Crocus Plains High School. She also played for the Manitoba Provincial Team for three years and earned a silver medal at the 1985 Canada Games. She then went on to play at Brandon University with the Bobcats for five seasons. During her time there, she was named Brandon University’s Female Athlete of the Year in 1984-85.
After playing, she transitioned to coaching at first at Garden Valley in Winkler and then going on to and build a powerhouse program at R.D. Parker Collegiate in Thompson, leading the Varsity Girls to four consecutive AAA provincial finals, including back-to-back championships in 2015 and 2016. Her impact in northern Manitoba extended beyond the court as she organized clinics, camps, and leagues to grow the game at the grassroots level. She has also served as an assistant coach for Manitoba's under-17 female team, worked with Basketball Manitoba’s Targeted Athlete Program, and continues to advocate for rural basketball initiatives and increasing women in coaching through her role as the President of Basketball Manitoba. She has received the Mike Spack Lifetime Achievement Award and has been inducted into the Brandon University Dick and Verda McDonald Sports Wall of Fame.
Today, on the Basketball Manitoba Podcast, we have Murray Brown.
He is one of the most accomplished coaches in Manitoba's history, coaching for over 34 years and more than 1,100 games as a head coach with the Oak Park Varsity girl's basketball team.
During that time, he won seven provincial titles in 1998, 1999, 2004, and 2013, with a “three-peat” from 2017-2019. He has been named MBCA basketball coach of the year 7 times and MHSAA coach in 2013.
He retired from coaching at Oak Park in 2022 and is currently an assistant with the Winnipeg Wesmen Women’s basketball team.
In this special episode, we’ve compiled the best advice shared by basketball players from all our past episodes. Hear from athletes of all levels—local stars, college players, and pros—as they share the wisdom, tips, and lessons they’ve learned on and off the court.
Whether you're an aspiring player, a seasoned athlete, or a basketball enthusiast, this collection of insights is sure to inspire and motivate you to elevate your game.
What you'll hear:
Don't miss this ultimate highlight reel of advice for basketball players. Subscribe for more episodes and stay connected to Manitoba’s basketball community.
In the summer of 2022, we were fortunate to sit down with Chad for over an hour as a guest on the Basketball Manitoba Podcast. In the episode, he details his journey through basketball and where it has taken him from Winnipeg to around the world. We remember him for his infectious attitude towards life and for being an amazing ambassador for Manitoba and Canada.
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Today on the Basketball Manitoba Podcast, we have Chad Posthumus.
Chad is a professional basketball player who is a graduate of River East Collegiate, where he was recognized as an All-Manitoban and as one of the top five high school players in Canada.
He represented the Manitoba Provincial Team 3 times.
After high school, he was recruited to play at the University of British Columbia. He transferred to Howard Community College (Columbia, Maryland) and finally to Morehead State in Kentucky. He was 4th in the NCAA in rebounds and was named to the All-Ohio Valley Conference Third Team.
He started his professional career with the Chicago Bulls in the NBA Summer League. Since then, he has played in Japan, Argentina, China, the United States in the G-League, and Canada in the NBL and the CEBL.
He has represented the Canadian National Team most recently at the FIBA AmeriCup 2022 in Brazil.
Today on the Basketball Manitoba Podcast, we have Robyn Boulanger.
She was the 15U Female Manitoba Provincial Team Head Coach this past summer at Nationals in St John’s, Newfoundland. She played basketball in high school at the University of Winnipeg Collegiate with the Anishinabe Pride Basketball Club, which her family started. She then played for the Centre for Permanence, Manitoba Provincial Team and represented her province at the North American Indigenous Games. After high school, she continued her basketball career at the University of Winnipeg with the Wesmen team. She was part of their 2021/2022 playoff run, where they won Silver Medals in both Canada West and U-Sports Nationals. Now, she uses her experience as an assistant coach for the Wesmen to help young players improve. She started Zaagi'idiwin Sport Performance, which helps athletes get better on and off the court by combining Indigenous knowledge with sports and movement.
The Manitoba Basketball Hall of Fame is pleased to announce its Class of 2024. The official induction occurred on Saturday, September 28, 2024, at the Victoria Inn in Winnipeg. The Manitoba Basketball Hall of Fame induction dinner occurred on Saturday, September 28, at the Victoria Inn in Winnipeg. Two players, Jennifer Finch and Keith Strieter, four builders, Wes Crymble, Joe Di Curzio, Tom Kendall, and Reynold Reyes, and championship teams from Neelin High School and St. Laurent School, were inducted. Details on the event can be found at... https://www.mbhof.com/2024/05/manitoba-basketball-hall-of-fame-and.html You can view Part 1 of the event, which included the welcomes, memorial, and greetings from Emcee Ross Wedlake, at... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8FtsD_SGn3I
Today, on the Basketball Manitoba Podcast, we have Lenin Mangaron.
He graduated from Oak Park High School, where he was named an All-Manitoban and played for the Manitoba Provincial Team for four years.
He then went on to play at the University of Manitoba, where he was named a GPAC Conference All-Star. He later transferred to the Brandon Bobcats basketball program for one year.
The teams that he participated in were some of the first to break into the NABA and FBA national scene out of Winnipeg. After college, he played semi-professional basketball in the Philippines.
After playing, he transitioned to coaching, a role he’s been doing for over 23 years. He started with JV basketball at Elmwood and has coached at various levels, from junior High to Club basketball.
He’s been a leading figure in the program at Sargent Park School, where they have won many Provincial Championships over the years. There, he was awarded Co-Coach of the Year by Basketball Manitoba.
He’s coached at the Manitoba Provincial Team level as an assistant coach and as a head coach, and he is currently the 15U male head coach for 2024.
Today, on the Basketball Manitoba Podcast, we have Dan Becker.
He graduated from Fort Richmond Collegiate and played college basketball at St. Joseph’s University before transferring to the University of Colorado. He then went on a 12-year journey through the professional ranks, playing in Europe, Asia, and Australia and back home in Canada with the Winnipeg Thunder and Winnipeg Cyclone pro teams. He also had the opportunity to try out for the NBA with the Indiana Pacers and Denver Nuggets.
He also represented Canada on the National stage at the World University Games and Jones Cups in Taipei, where he notably won a Silver Medal facing the United States.
After playing, he stepped back into the Manitoba basketball community as a coach, spending time at the University, Provincial Team, high school, and club levels. He is currently the Technical Director at Basketball Manitoba, a position he’s held for 13 years.
Other notable achievements include…
Big Eight Conference Select Team member in 1988.
Manitoba Basketball Hall of Fame member Class of 2013.
Gold Medal coach at the 2014 National Championship for the 17U Male Provincial Team.
Producer's note: Darcy Coss had Dan Becker on his own Back2Basketball Podcast series as a guest before the Basketball Manitoba Podcast series launch. That interview can be heard here... https://open.spotify.com/episode/6PeIlMerL04uDmYc4QvA1o?si=Ocd8x-4OTiuoYbtNMVCqHQ
Today, on the Basketball Manitoba Podcast, we have Ashley Hoitink.
She joins us fresh from her appointment as the head coach of the 17U Female Provincial Team and is gearing up for the upcoming Canada Games in 2025.
A native of Ste. Anne, Manitoba, she has been coaching for 12 years at the Team Manitoba, high school, club, WMBA, and Steve Nash Youth Basketball levels.
She is currently an assistant coach under Michele Sung at the University of Manitoba and the head coach of the Varsity Girls' team at Pembina Trails Collegiate. She also served as the varsity boys' coach at Morden Collegiate for seven years.
She played High school at St. Anne Collegiate and played for two years at Red River College.
She’s been a receipt of the…
Jim Bulloch Coaches Award for contributions to basketball coaching
2019 MHSAA Female Coach of the Year among all sports
2023 Canada Basketball Mike MacKay Transformational Coach Award
