Sea Bears GM-head coach loves a challenge

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This article was published 14/12/2022 (1375 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Last month, the Canadian Elite Basketball League’s Winnipeg Sea Bears unveiled a logo and announced they would be playing home games at Canada Life Centre beginning in May.

On Wednesday, the CEBL expansion team took the next step, naming veteran American bench boss Mike Taylor as its first head coach and general manager.

“I spoke with several teams and was immediately impressed with (owner) David (Asper) and the Winnipeg situation,” said Taylor by phone from his home base in Ponte Vedra, Fla. “For me, the opportunity to not only be a head coach but also kind of build a team from the ground up, establish the foundation of a first-year franchise — I love to build organizations. This appealed to me immediately.

“I think we connected with the ownership in terms of values and the way you treat people… I’m very excited about the opportunity and I really love the CEBL. I’ve had great time in the league and I’m really looking forward to the challenge to build a new franchise.”

Taylor served as head coach of the CEBL’s Vancouver Bandits in 2022 and is currently an associate head coach with the CEBL champion Brampton Honey Badgers, who are representing Canada at the Basketball Champions League Americas team competition.

The 50-year-old product of Williamsport, Pa., brings a lengthy list of coaching credentials to his new post.

Prior to his stint in Vancouver, Taylor guided the Polish national men’s team from 2014 to 2021, helping to raise its world ranking from No. 42 to No. 13. He also coached for 11 seasons in Germany, guiding three organizations to promotion (Hamburg Towers, Ratiopharm Ulm and Niners Chemnitz). In 2013, he led the Maine Celtics of the NBA’s G League to the organization’s first playoff appearance and also coached the league’s all-star game.

“I think the national team coaching experience is very relatable,” said Taylor of his time with the Polish national team. “And I think also the experience as a head coach in Europe and also having that year in Fraser Valley under my belt, I was really able to get a feeling for the league and I learned from some really good guys. I feel like the the experience can be translated into a firm foundation and a strong start in Winnipeg.”

In Vancouver, Taylor replaced Kyle Julius as head coach in 2022 when Julius had a commitment to a club team in Taiwan. With Julius returning to coach the Bandits in 2023, Taylor had the option of remaining with Vancouver as his assistant but he chose to explore his options instead.

Taylor said working with the Bandits and their president, Dylan Kular, was a good primer for the job he will be doing with the Sea Bears.

“When you work closely and see their structure and see their operation, it kind of gives you a clearer picture of, ‘OK, this is a great example of the way to do it,’ ” added Taylor. “But I think every market and every situation is unique, so you kind of have to find what works best in your area. I’m really looking forward to the time with (Sea Bears president) Jason (Smith), David (Asper) and everybody in Winnipeg to build up an exciting team that the whole city and the whole region could fall in love with.”

Smith said the club was impressed with Taylor’s extensive resume and experience.

“We had a lot of good first impressions,” said Smith. “And then when we had a conversation with him, we were really aligned on the values that I think our club is interested in putting forward. He’s a very positive style of coach and he’s very community-oriented.”

Taylor will not be able to begin assembling a roster until March, but the new team is already creating a buzz.

“This announcement comes out earlier today and I’ve got like 50 to 100 phone calls and messages from agents trying to reach out,” said Taylor. “It’s not like I’m reaching out to them, they’re reaching out to us.”

The Sea Bears also announced Wednesday deposits on tickets for the 2023 season are now being accepted at www.seabears.ca. Fans can reserve their tickets by posting a non-refundable $50 deposit per seat.

mike.sawatzky@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @sawa14