June 5, 2007
FORMER OLYMPIAN SWORDS NAMED VOYAGEURS BASKETBALL HEAD COACH
SUDBURY, Ont.- At a press conference held at the Ben Avery Gym on Monday night, Athletic Director Peter Hellstrom introduced Laurentian Alumnus and former Canadian national team player Shawn Swords as new head coach of the Laurentian Voyageurs men's basketball program.
As a player Swords was a standout for the Laurentian Voyageurs from 1992 to 1997 earning an OUAA first or second team all-star award in four out of five seasons and a CIAU second-team all-Canadian award in his final season. He was also named the Laurentian athletics male athlete of the year in 1997.
After graduating from Laurentian University (1997) with a Bachelor of Arts in Economics degree, the native of Ottawa, Ontario made a name for himself on the international scene, playing professional basketball in Europe for 10 years. While in Europe Swords was named European Player of the Year in 2003 and 2004 and a three-star MVP in 2003. While playing he has also managed other duties with many of his teams including media promotions, radio interviews and public speaking as well as being an on-court coach.
He also spent a total of nine years (1994-2003) with the Canadian national team program beginning as a member of the student team in 1994 and moving onto the senior national team. Swords competed in over 150 games for Canada with his biggest highlight being participating in the Olympic summer games in Sydney, Australia in 2000. He was part of a Canadian team that finished with a 5-2 record.
Since leaving Laurentian, Swords has also found time to gain coaching experience that includes being an assistant coach with the Laurentian Voyageur CIAU semi-finalist team in 1997-98, guest coaching at Nike All-Canada Camp and Cadets FCM Mulhouse basket in France and coaching at the grassroots level through youth camps. He has also learned from many elite level coaches that include Carleton Ravens head coach Dave Smart; Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks head coach Peter Campbell and current Toronto Raptors assistant coach Jay Triano as well as numerous coaches in Europe.
Laurentian University Athletics is extremely excited to be able to welcome the addition of Shawn Swords to our program said Peter Hellstrom, Athletic Director. Someone with his basketball knowledge and experience is a key component in building a national contender. We feel that Shawn has the marketability and post-secondary contacts to recruit elite level student-athletes to Laurentian University.
Recruiting is the most crucial element of coaching and we feel Shawn?s background as a player here at Laurentian and abroad has prepared him to conquer this challenge added Hellstrom.
Swords will immediately immerse himself in his duties in preparation for the upcoming season which will begin with training camp in early September then a pre-season tournament in Sudbury on October 13-15 before the Voyageurs open the regular season on November 9 at the University of Windsor.
(Source: Greg Hoddinott, Laurentian Athletics, Sports Information)
As a player Swords was a standout for the Laurentian Voyageurs from 1992 to 1997 earning an OUAA first or second team all-star award in four out of five seasons and a CIAU second-team all-Canadian award in his final season. He was also named the Laurentian athletics male athlete of the year in 1997.
After graduating from Laurentian University (1997) with a Bachelor of Arts in Economics degree, the native of Ottawa, Ontario made a name for himself on the international scene, playing professional basketball in Europe for 10 years. While in Europe Swords was named European Player of the Year in 2003 and 2004 and a three-star MVP in 2003. While playing he has also managed other duties with many of his teams including media promotions, radio interviews and public speaking as well as being an on-court coach.
He also spent a total of nine years (1994-2003) with the Canadian national team program beginning as a member of the student team in 1994 and moving onto the senior national team. Swords competed in over 150 games for Canada with his biggest highlight being participating in the Olympic summer games in Sydney, Australia in 2000. He was part of a Canadian team that finished with a 5-2 record.
Since leaving Laurentian, Swords has also found time to gain coaching experience that includes being an assistant coach with the Laurentian Voyageur CIAU semi-finalist team in 1997-98, guest coaching at Nike All-Canada Camp and Cadets FCM Mulhouse basket in France and coaching at the grassroots level through youth camps. He has also learned from many elite level coaches that include Carleton Ravens head coach Dave Smart; Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks head coach Peter Campbell and current Toronto Raptors assistant coach Jay Triano as well as numerous coaches in Europe.
Laurentian University Athletics is extremely excited to be able to welcome the addition of Shawn Swords to our program said Peter Hellstrom, Athletic Director. Someone with his basketball knowledge and experience is a key component in building a national contender. We feel that Shawn has the marketability and post-secondary contacts to recruit elite level student-athletes to Laurentian University.
Recruiting is the most crucial element of coaching and we feel Shawn?s background as a player here at Laurentian and abroad has prepared him to conquer this challenge added Hellstrom.
Swords will immediately immerse himself in his duties in preparation for the upcoming season which will begin with training camp in early September then a pre-season tournament in Sudbury on October 13-15 before the Voyageurs open the regular season on November 9 at the University of Windsor.
(Source: Greg Hoddinott, Laurentian Athletics, Sports Information)
