Image Credit: CFJC Today

By Adam Donnelly

WOLFPACK WOMEN'S HOOPS

WolfPack welcome new Women’s basketball coach

May 28, 2019 | 4:55 PM

KAMLOOPS — After a difficult three years in Canada West the TRU WolfPack Women’s basketball team parted ways with long-time head coach Scott Reeves. Now, Reeves’ replacement has arrived.

Goran Nogic was at the TCC on Monday to work out some of the ‘Pack players. The Serbian-born coach, who has coached professionally for almost three decades, is confident he can get the program back to their winning ways.

Nogic has been in Canada for about four years now. His English is far from perfect, but when it comes to the language of basketball, Nogic is confident he’ll be understood.

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“I have my English,” Nogic said with a laugh. “I speak the Goran English, and basketball terminology is universal, so I don’t believe it will be some kind of problem.”

The WolfPack women’s basketball team was due for a change. After winning 15 games in the 2015-2016 season, the WolfPack has struggled to compete in Canada West. Since the start of the 2016-2017 season, TRU has only won 14 games and, during that same stretch, have lost 46. For some returning players, the new coach has already created some excitement.

“I could barely sleep last night, getting ready for this practice,” fifth-year guard Leilani Carney told CFJC Today. “I’m ready to go. it’s only May, but I just want September to come around and get started.”

Carney is the lone fifth-year on the WolfPack roster. Heading into her final year with the ‘Pack, she’s embracing that role as a leader and hopes the new coach will unite the team as they work to improve.

“Every aspect we have to improve on,” Carney said. “I think right now, playing as team and getting better as a team together is the most important thing.”

Nogic says he demands accountability from his players during games. Away from the gym, it’s a different story.

Image Credit: CFJC Today

“I’m very tough and very hard coach on the court, but I’m very flexible and friendly outside of the court,” Nogic said. “When players start to understand that; I won’t let them have any compromise on the court, but I will do whatever for them outside of the court. When we start to have that understanding, after that we have great results.”

He hopes by building that trust with his athletes, they’re able to play the game with creativity and passion.

“I love when I have creative players,” Nogic explained. “I’m not a coach that say ‘you have to do that, go there and screen’ because I think the most beautiful part of the basketball is to show the creativity.”

And if Goran and his new team can all get on the same page, it won’t matter if they’re speaking Serbian or English. Just as long as they win some games.