‘Ecstatic to get out there’

The proposition initially hit Alex Campbell like a hard screen at the top of the key.

While it didn’t stun him the way colliding with a hulking centre would, it, too, seemingly came out of nowhere.

It was during his player-coach exit meeting with Winnipeg Sea Bears head coach and GM Mike Raimbault when Campbell — who had informed the newly minted bench boss that he was retiring from professional basketball — was asked about transitioning into a coaching and management role with the club.

It was a sensible idea for the longtime guard, who had been the Sea Bears’ captain and taken on a player-coach role with the team this summer, but, suddenly, a routine exit meeting left him with a big decision about where he would make his next steps in life.

“I never really gave it much thought (before Raimbault asked). Obviously, transitioning over to coaching is something I’m currently doing with the University of Saskatchewan, but the Winnipeg (offer) caught me totally off guard,” said Campbell, who was hired as a lead assistant coach with the Huskies men’s basketball team in June and was preparing to begin a real estate course.

It was still a role that Campbell was intrigued by, and after reaching an agreement with Saskatchewan head coach Jamie Campbell that would allow him to work in Winnipeg during the summer months, the 32-year-old signed an offer to become the Sea Bears’ assistant general manager and assistant coach.

“In terms of just a smooth transition, I honestly don’t think it could have gone much smoother,” said Campbell. “I know I always wanted to do something basketball-oriented after I finished playing, that’s why I started the Campbell Foundation back in 2020, and so this was a hand-in-glove fit.

“I mean, I didn’t ask for it, nor did I think too much about it, especially the GM part — that part caught me totally off guard — but I’m super excited to work with Mike Raimbault and build this thing up from the ground.”

Campbell, who played with the Saskatchewan Rattlers and Vancouver Bandits before joining Winnipeg, retired with one of the most remarkable playing careers in CEBL history.

“…I’m super excited to work with Mike Raimbault and build this thing up from the ground.”

He is the CEBL’s all-time leader in games played, fifth in points scored, fifth in steals and was named 2019 Championship Weekend MVP. The Brampton, Ont., product was also the first Canadian player to reach 1,000 career points.

Campbell’s experience in an official coaching role is limited, though he’s not completely in the dark. He previously worked with amateur players on Ontario’s provincial team and helped fellow professional players with their training during the off-season. Before being brought on as a lead assistant with the Huskies, he helped with recruiting and player development.

However, he admitted this role will be a big step. Campbell enters the pro coaching ranks for the first time, while Raimbault, who was an assistant coach with the Sea Bears for three seasons, prepares for his first season at the helm of a pro team.

“I think Mike is a great coach. He’s been a strong sense of stability when things are going wrong and stuff like that. Guys always turn to Mike, so I think he’s going to do a great job being our head coach and GM,” said Campbell.

“Over the last two years, I’ve been able to learn a lot from him, pick his brain, and I think when he asked me, naturally, it was just an open conversation. It didn’t really feel like an interview or anything like that. And I think he just sees value in what I bring. I’m ecstatic to get out there.”

Raimbault and Campbell have already made their first management decision, choosing which players the Sea Bears will protect this off-season. A protection designation gives Winnipeg the first right to negotiate a contract with the following players ahead of next season: Simi Shittu, Emmanuel Akot, Kyler Filewich, Jalen Harris, Trevon Scott, Will Richardson, Maurice Calloo and Nathan Bilamu.

There have been several players who transitioned to coaching roles across the CEBL’s seven-year history, but Campbell is just the second to take on a management role, joining Jordan Baker — who was made head coach of the Edmonton Stingers in 2023, added the GM tag in 2024 and was recently anointed the club’s president.

“The Sea Bears are a first-class organization… Everyone just works, so to be a part of that, it was definitely a no-brainer.”

The move was a welcome one by fans, who flooded the Sea Bears’ social media pages with messages of support when the announcement was made last week.

Many felt it was a shrewd move by Raimbault, given Campbell’s leadership and familiarity with the organization. Campbell agreed, calling it a no-brainer once he settled everything personally.

“The Sea Bears are a first-class organization, from David Asper up top, down to our (support staff). Everyone just works, so to be a part of that, it was definitely a no-brainer,” he said.

“They make working easy, they make coming to work in the morning fun, and the last two summers have been a great experience.”

joshua.frey-sam@freepress.mb.ca

X: @jfreysam