MISSISSAUGA - The UTM Eagles, at the University of Toronto Mississauga have their varsity men's basketball head coach in place. Nkosi Adams will be the first-ever varsity head coach as UTM enters the OCAA in its inaugural season beginning in the fall of 2017-18.

Prior to taking the job at UTM, Adams served as an assistant coach on Centennial College's men's team for three years. He was directly in charge of recruiting and the team made the playoffs two of the three years during his tenure. Adams is also the founder/president of the Durham City Basketball Association, one of the largest and most successful clubs in the Ontario Basketball Association. The club was established in 2003 and has won numerous provincial championships at the Division I level. The club has also been very successful competing in the United States and has won numerous championships at AAU tournaments.

In addition, Adams has also been a head coach at Pickering High School, one of the most respected basketball programs in Canada since 2005. From 2005 to 2011 his junior basketball teams won six consecutive LOSSA Championships. He was also part of the Pickering coaching staff that won back-to-back senior provincial championships in 2007 and 2008. He recently won the LOSSA championship in 2015 and 2016 and will be coaching the senior boy's team in the 2016-17 season.

As a player, Adams was a standout point guard at Pickering High School, where he was team captain from 1993 to 1998 and led the team to five consecutive LOSSA championships and consecutive OFSSA berths in 1997 and 1998. After high school, he played on the varsity basketball team at Centennial College before becoming involved in coaching youth in the community. Adams is a graduate of Brock University. He received his sport management degree in 2004. In addition, he holds social service worker and recreation and leisure diplomas.

Adams now faces the challenge of developing a basketball program from the ground up and recruiting players that can meet the academic requirements of the University of Toronto. "We're very fortunate to have landed a coach like (Adams) who has had the experience of creating a successful basketball program, was a successful recruiter and is a solid basketball coach," said Jack Krist, varsity program coordinator at UTM. "Coach Adams has had the opportunity to be a student in both a university and college environment. We know he will be a great mentor, preparing our student athletes for the challenges they will face in the classroom, on the basketball court and more importantly in life after graduation."

Adams is excited about the challenge in front of him. "I am very honoured to be named head coach of the new varsity basketball program at UTM. U of T is one of the best universities in the world and to have the opportunity to build a reputable and respectable program here is very exciting," said Adams. "My goal is to build a program that our players, students, faculty, alumni and community members can all be proud of. UTM has always had a great reputation in operating intramurals and I have no doubt the varsity program will achieve the same successes. I feel that my diverse experiences in basketball will assist UTM in launching a successful program as we enter into the OCAA."

Adams first task as the UTM head coach will be to pick his assistant coaches. His first time on the courts at UTM will be as a tournament convenor of the UTM Eagles Hoops Classic, an inaugural high school senior boy's basketball tournament on Dec. 22.

Source: University of Toronto Mississauga