The Redeemer University College Department of Athletics is pleased to welcome the newest member to the Royals Coaching Staff with the announcement that Jamie Girolametto has been named the new Men's Basketball Head Coach.

Jamie Girolametto has been around basketball for most of his life and is a well-known and respected basketball 'mind' in Hamilton. He has been in a coaching role since 1998. In response to the hiring, Athletic Director Dave Mantel said, "We are ecstatic. Any time you can add a coach of his pedigree and experience level, it's an opportunity for that program to make significant advances. We received a lot of positive references from some of the most influential basketball people in the city indicating that there would be no more qualified person to run the varsity program than Jamie."

Coach Girolametto brings a very impressive resume with him to Redeemer with many years of coaching experience. He has coached at the high school level, club level, university level as well as many all-star and development teams. He has coached at St. Mary's Catholic Secondary School since 1998 winning numerous Championships with the Midget, Junior, Senior Boys and Senior Girls Teams. He spent time coaching the Blessed Sacrament Midget and Juvenile teams, the Ancaster Magic Junior team, the Mountain Region team in Ontario Basketball's Elite Development Program, and was also a coach of the Adidas All-Canadian All-Star Game. Jamie was also the assistant coach at McMaster University from 2010-2011.

Coach Girolametto will rely on his extensive knowledge from coaching as he takes over the Redeemer Royals basketball program as well as his impressive playing career. As an athlete, Jamie played for the Blessed Sacrament Basketball Club, St. Mary's Catholic Secondary School, and was also the captain of the McMaster University Men's Basketball team.

When asked what it meant to him to now be the new head coach at Redeemer Jamie said, "Redeemer University College has an outstanding academic reputation. The statistics speak for themselves; the small class sizes, the student to faculty ratio, the extraordinarily high work placement rate amongst graduates, and the number of Redeemer graduates that have entered graduate programs is unbelievable. As a coach here, I believe that the role is to aid in the development of the whole person, spiritually, mentally, and physically. I have always demanded that my players first be good Christian citizens, secondly, successful students, and finally players who display daily maximal effort, and passion each time they step on the court."

When asked about what Jamie expects as a coach at Redeemer, his response was, "First and foremost we want our Redeemer athletes to use their God given talents to the best of their abilities, and play in a manner that glorifies God. While doing so, we also want to create a winning culture."

Jamie seems to be a winner wherever he goes. His accolades both as a player and coach include 2 OFSAA Gold Medals, OFSAA AAAA 2 time quarterfinalist, 2 GHAC Regional Championships, 8 City Championships, 3 OUA Championships, 2 CIS Silver Medals, 1 GHAC Championship, and 4 OBA Gold Medals. This will be the first time that Jamie has coached at the collegiate level in Ontario and he will certainly be looking to add an OCAA Championship as well as a CCAA Championship to his impressive list of accomplishments.

Jamie was featured in Tuesday's issue of the Hamilton Spectator. You can see the story here: Former Marauders hoops star takes reins at Redeemer

Jamie's complete list of coaching and playing experience is listed below.

Basketball Coaching Experience

• 1998-present St. Mary Catholic Secondary School Basketball Coach, Hamilton ON
• Midget, Junior, Senior Boys’, and Senior Girls’ Coach
• Won OFSAA AAA Gold with the Senior girls in 1999
• OFSAA AAAA Quarterfinalists with Senior boys 2005 & 2006
• Have won 6 city Championships overall
• 1999-present Tournament Director for St. Mary Blue and Gold Shootout
• 2005-present Chair for the Annual St. Mary’s Basketball Hall of Fame Dinner
• 2010-2011 McMaster University Men’s Basketball Assistant Coach
• 2005-2011 Co-coordinator for feeder school basketball clinics at St. Mary
• 2005-2011 Co-coordinator for Canada Drive Basketball Camp
• 2005-2010 Co-coordinator for St. Mary’s Basketball Camp
• 2010 Inducted to St. Mary’s Basketball Hall of Fame
• 2003-2009 Tournament Director for Southern Ontario Shootout Invitational
• 2003-2008 Organized out of province/country tournament for St. Mary’s Senior Boys’ Basketball team
• 2007 Initiated PAL 2O Basketball focus course now offered at St. Mary
• 2006 Assistant Coach, Adidas All-Canadian All Star Game
• 2004 Coach of Mountain Region team in Ontario Basketball’s Elite Development Program
• 2002-2003 Coach of Ancaster Magic Junior team
• 1999-2001 Coach of Blessed Sacrament Midget and Juvenile teams

Playing Experience

• 1993-1997 Member of the McMaster Men’s Basketball team. Captain 1996/1997.
• 1991-1993 Member of the St. Mary Senior team. Won OFSAA Gold 1991.
• 1991-1993 Member of the Hamilton Spectator Catholic All-Star team.
• 1988-1992 Member of Blessed Sacrament Basketball Club. Won 4 OBA Gold.
• 1990-1992 Member of the Ontario West Regional team.

The Head Coach position opened up when Head Coach Michael Schilthuis decided to step away from the program along with Assistant Coaches Jon Vermeer and Andrew Baille to all make more time for their families. Redeemer would like to express their thanks for the years of service that 'Coach Mike' as well as Coach Vermeer and Coach Baille contributed to the Redeemer's Men's Basketball program and wish them well as they move on from the Royals.

Coach Jamie Girolametto can be reached at mensbasketball@redeemer.ca.

Source: Redeemer University College