MEET OUR COACHES
One of the many things that sets Burlington Basketball apart from other youth Basketball associations, is the high-level of skill, knowledge, and overall leadership qualities of our coaching staff.
Meet some of them below!
COACHES & TRAINERS
Nathan McCarthy
Head Coach - Force
Nathan has had an extensive playing carrer including playing for McMaster and the University of Ottawa (2011 - 2016) as well as being an OUA All-Star and ultimately winning OUA Bronze. He was Head Coach at Notre Dame Catholic School,
Corpus Christi Catholic Secondary School (2021, and most recently, St Thomas Aquinas Catholic Secondary School (2021 - 2022)
Coaching Philosophy:
"Modern basketball is played at a fast pace. I feel the most important task as coaches is to develop player skills and install systems that improve decision making abilities in this context."
Best Advice to Families:
"Players need to work hard on their own. Team practices are only a small part of your basketball development. If you are not getting to a court on your own both during the season and off-season, you will not come close to reaching your full potential."
Jeff Boelhouwer
Program Director & Head Coach - Jr. NBA Program
A lifelong resident of Burlington, Jeff Boelhouwer spent his youth while playing several sports at an elite and highly competitive level. He continues to endorse a healthy, active lifestyle and still enjoys competing (as an aging athlete), in several sports.
Jeff has coached community, school, and club-level sports since he began teaching in 1991. Among other things, Jeff coached soccer and basketball in Burlington at the rep level, with his Burlington club basketball teams having won Division 1 Provincial Championship medals many times, including an atom girls “Division One” gold in 2007. Jeff is also currently a “Learning Facilitator/Coach Evaluator” for Basketball Ontario and has traveled throughout Ontario meeting and mentoring coaches. He has run many successful basketball camps and clinics and has coached many “travel” teams in AAU-style tournaments throughout the US.
Jeff understands and endorses a long-term athlete development model, and believes strongly in building life skills, fundamental movement skills as well as sport-specific skills. He has taught Physical Education to students from JK - Grade 12 and has always strived to make learning fun. He promotes building a competitive spirit while teaching respect and sportsmanship. He is keenly aware that coaches are role models and takes that responsibility very seriously. Jeff is thrilled to be involved with coaching youth basketball in Burlington.
Brendan Noonan
Head Coach Elite Rep Program U16 team and Director of Rep
Brendan started his basketball career over 40 years ago and has been lucky enough to play and coach on many competitive and successful teams. In high school, he played for the legendary coach Terry Thomson at Oakwood Collegiate, a well-known Toronto basketball landmark. He played 2 seasons with Team Ontario and ultimatley won a national championship. His post-secondary journey landed at Western University where he played for 5 years which included a National Championship.
Following his playing career, Brandan was assistant coach for 2 years with the varsity team at Western University where he had attended university.
Brendan is currently in his 7th season coaching with Burlington Basketball. His philosophy in coaching has always been to focus on basic individual skill development, along with an unselfish team-style approach on both ends of the floor. While he believes we need to ensure we are pushing our athletes to perform at their best, we also need to ensure they continue to love the game and respect their teammates. His advice to parents who have children playing the game? Look for an environment that prioritizes doing things the right way and is focused on teaching young athletes the skills to be as successful off the court, as on it.
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Holly (Pagnan) Sine
Head Coach - Force (U10) Girls
Holly grew up playing basketball in Brantford and finished her 4th year as a varsity athlete at the University of Toronto with an Ontario University Championship (OUA) an OUA All-star award and an 8th place final ranking in Canada. In her final year of high school, Holly won the CWOSSA title with North Park Collegiate and the Ontario AAA Provincial title with the Brantford Selects (combo team CYO-Briers).
She coached the Tri-Campus University of Toronto league for 2 seasons, worked with youth for many years at summer camps, and is starting her third season with the Burlington Force coaching staff.
Holly’s coaching philosophy is centered around game-time readiness. This means that both the physical/technical skills along with the knowledge/understanding skills are honed to empower the athletes to be successful on the court to capitalize on each possession of the game. Holly is a big proponent of girls in sport and is excited that Burlington Basketball is recognizing and supporting the need for more girls to participate in basketball at an early age and throughout high school. Holly encourages parents to adopt and foster an I CAN DO attitude with their athletes, if they believe they can do it and stay focused on being positive they will experience success.
Dave McKay
Head Coach - Force
Early years played within the Ontario Development Program. Played 3 years for Brock University. Coached at house league and rep level for 5 years.
Involved with Burlington Basketball as a Coach for 5 years and Board Member for 2 years.
I believe in leveraging youth sports to teach kids important life skills such as goal setting, working within a team, prioritization and communication. Best advice to families is to understand that all experiences within the game are growth and learning opportunities for their kids. There are often more lessons to be learned from losses than victories. Character is developed in the face of adversity.
Zelimir Stevanovic
Player Development Coach - Force /
President & Founder IBSA
Zelimir Stevanovic is Player Development for all Rep Training for Burlington Basketball. He has partnered with Burlington Basketball since 2012 and was instrumental in creating the model of European skill development and training for all levels of Rep players in Burlington Basketball.
As the founder and president of the International Basketball and Sports Academy (IBSA), Coach Z is a former professional basketball player with more than 20 years of basketball experience both in the US and in Europe. His basketball career began in Serbia and continued at the University of Pittsburgh before he held professional contracts in France, Italy, and Cyprus. He founded IBSA Basketball in 2009 to share his basketball knowledge and experience with young Canadian athletes. Starting with one location in Kitchener-Waterloo, IBSA Basketball quickly expanded into the Hamilton, Burlington and Oakville and Niagara regions.
Rob Scully
Head Coach - Force (U11) Boys
Rob has been involved with Burlington Basketball for over 25 years. He grew up playing within the organization for numerous years in high school and through his development under great coaches, he went on to have a successful career at McMaster University where he played for 5 years leading the team to 3 national championship appearances. From there, Rob continued to involve himself in the Burlington Basketball community and coached the U19 program for 5 years. Currently, Rob serves as the coach of our U11 boys tier 1 team and is focused on the continued development of our young athletes encouraging them to continue to develop their skills and proceed with the enjoyment of playing basketball within a competitive environment.
Rob believe is positive reinforcement and encouragement on skill development for all young athletes. Younger athletes flourish when they can see progress and growth that is reinforced, encouraged, and celebrated by coaches and peers. Rob is highly motivated to encourage and teach the principles of team, and what it means for an individual to be a part of one.
Barry Mungar
IBSA Head Coach & Trainer
Barry Mungar is a former professional, NCAA, and Olympic basketball player who competed for Canada in the 1988 Seoul Olympics. He was a member of the Canadian Men’s National Team from 1986-1988. Barry played Division I NCAA basketball at St. Bonaventure University, in Olean, New York, from 1981-1986. During his senior year, he garnished ”First Team All-League” honours in the NCAA’s Atlantic 10 Conference and was selected 82nd overall by the Washington Bullets (now the Wizards) in the 1986 NBA Draft. Following the NBA draft he played in the Portsmouth, Virginia, NBA Pro-Am Camp with Dennis Rodman as a teammate. Barry later played professionally, including one season in the Italian Professional League. St. Bonaventure University honoured him in 2005, by placing him in the university’s Athletic Hall of Fame. Barry has been an IBSA Lead Coach for 12 years.
Barry has been involved with the training of Burlington Basketball players for more than 8 years. Sharing his knowledge and passion with youth has enriched his life.
Barry believes that intense, intelligent training not only builds better players, but transforms youth into better people. Discipline and hard work are the building blocks of success for any young athlete.
Djordje (George) Babic
Training Coach - Force Elite / IBSA Head Coach
A coach with European, US and Canadian basketball experience, Djordje develops players in a disciplined fashion, teaching them to read and understand the game properly and giving them the confidence to be leaders both on and off the court. He brings an energetic, passionate and hands on style of coaching to the game.
Coaching Career:
Jr Boys Head Coach New Horizon Academy.
A member of the Serbian Basketball Coaches Association.
FIBA licenced Basketball Coach
IBSA coach 2016-current.
Kings Christian Jr boys Head coach 2017-2020
Kings Christian Sr boys assistant coach 2017- 2020
Kings Christian Women’s Varsity coach 2017-2020
Playing Career:
Lester B. Pearson Highschool 2009-2013
Mineral Area College NJCAA 2013-2014
York University Men’s Basketball 2014-2015
Windsor University Men’s Basketball 2016-2017
TJ Singh
Strength & Conditioning Coach - Force Elite
Tj’s vision is to help as many athletes in Canada get to the next level. With the motto bigger, faster stronger, every athlete can take their game to an elite level through strength and conditioning.
Ex-collegiate athlete and student assistant strength coach at the university of Missouri. Tj returned to Canada in 2017 and since then is the owner of Sports specific training (SST) Oakville.
He works with numerous professional athletes in various sports.
Coach TJ has a degree in Kinesiology and Strength and conditioning certified (CSCS).
He is now a head strength and conditioning coach at New Horizon Academy and King’s Christian Collegiate.
Ray Kim
Training Coach - Force Elite / IBSA Head Coach
Head Coach – TIDP Ontario Basketball (2012-2013)
Coach, Scouting Manager – University of Western Ontario, Men’s Basketball (2013-2015)
Head Coach – King’s Christian Collegiate WBB (NJC Circuit – 2019-2020)
Coach – Canada Elite Men’s U16 Under Armour Association Team (2017-2018)
Coach – Canada Elite Women’s U15/16 Under Armour Association Team (2018-19)
Head Coach – Canada Elite Women’s U14 Under Armour Association Team (2018-19)
Coach – King’s Christian Collegiate Men’s OSBA Team (2016-2019)
Coach – King’s Christian Collegiate Women’s OSBA Team (2016-2021)
Trainer – IBSA Basketball (2016-Current)
Head coach – New Horizon Academy
Sydney Saunders
Trainer - Force Elite
Coach Sydney will bring a positive winning attitude along with some flare for the offensive side of the ball. He went to Delgado community College in New Orleans where he played baseball but has always stayed in tune with the ins and outs of basketball.
Notable recent coaching experience
Mississauga Monarchs basketball- 2014-2016
21 Hoops- 2016-2017
Inter-city Saints- 2017-2020
Basketball Trainer at Atlas Elite training
Basketball trainer at IBSANew Horizon Academy coach