University of Windsor mens basketball coach Chris Oliver. Photo courtesy University of Windsor athletic department.University of Windsor mens basketball coach Chris Oliver. Photo courtesy University of Windsor athletic department.
Chatham

U of W men's hoops coach stepping aside

The men's basketball coach at the University of Windsor is moving on after over a decade of success.

The university announced Tuesday morning that Chris Oliver is stepping down from the position that he has held since 2005. The move is effective immediately and is due to personal reasons, according to U of W athletic department spokesperson Elisa Mitton.

“It’s been a privilege to coach at the University of Windsor, and I am grateful to Gord Grace, Mike Havey and Bob Boucher, for providing me the leadership and opportunity,” said Oliver. “I am grateful to all the players, assistant coaches, alumni, donors and support staff who helped us bring this program to national significance. And I am grateful to the community that supported me, and my family, as we loved every minute of representing the region and university.”

Oliver is leaving behind a strong legacy on the Lancers hardwood. He compiled a 211-141 record in Ontario University Association (OUA) conference play. He has also racked up six OUA Western Division regular-season titles, two OUA Western playoff titles, a Wilson Cup Ontario championship and three trips to the U-Sports National Championships.

The coach has also been named the OUA Men's Basketball Coach of the Year three times, the Gino Fracas Award as U of W's Coach of the Year and the Fox 40 OUA Coach of the Year Award.

U of W athletic director Mike Havey said Oliver's basketball pedigree will be missed.

“I’d like to thank Chris for his fourteen-year commitment to the University of Windsor and our men’s basketball program,” said Havey in a news release. “Chris was able to significantly elevate the performance level of the program and maintain it at a consistently high level. Under his leadership, the Lancers were a consistent U-Sports top ten program for more than a decade.  We wish him well in his future basketball endeavours.”

A nationwide search has begun for Oliver's successor.

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