By Anthony Lopopolo
Roy Rana has an impressive resume. It boasts five OFSAA championships and a combined total of 14 regional and city-wide titles.
It’s hard to imagine the new men’s basketball coach could have been outdone by another candidate.
Unless it’s Dave DeAveiro, the top coach in university basketball. DeAveiro, the coach at the University of Ottawa, was offered the coaching gig at Ryerson before changing his mind.
A proven leader at the helm of the Ottawa Gee-Gee’s men’s basketball program, DeAveiro owns accolades Rana can only begin to target.
He is the all-time wins leader among men’s basketball coaches at the university level with a record of 174-111 and led Ottawa for eight consecutive years without registering a losing season or missing the playoffs.
Adding to his wealth of experience is his days on the court, where he racked up 1,010 career points in the 1980s as a point guard for the Gee-Gees.
That’s what he would have brought to Ryerson.
“Ryerson posed a great opportunity for me and my career. I have tremendous respect for people around its campus, from the president right down to management, to [athletic director] Ivan Joseph and his network of guys and the [coaching] position itself,” DeAveiro said.
“Everyone was more than fair to me. I’d definitely love to be a part of that environment.”
Citing family issues as the sole reason why his move was blocked, he’s certain that he’d be currently treading across Kerr Hall Gym to hold practice.
“The job suited me, personally and professionally. If my family wasn’t an issue, I’d be your head coach right now.” But Ivan Joseph wasn’t so inclined to tip DeAveiro as a shoo-in, stating that the school had accepted applications from individuals other than him and Rana.
DeAveiro and the Gee-Gees will be making a trip to Ryerson University for a game early next January.
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