There was the expected thunderous applause for Fred VanVleet, Pascal Siakam, Scottie Barnes and Nick Nurse during the recent Toronto Raptors training-camp intra-squad game at Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre. But there was also an unusually strong response, at least in one section of the sold-out crowd, during the downstream announcements of the farm team assistant coaches.
Noah Lewis of Comox turned around to acknowledge his family and friends from the Island as his coaching career continues to rise as one of Eric Khoury’s six assistant coaches with Raptors 905, Toronto’s G-League affiliate team. Lewis first became exposed to the organization two years ago by beating out hundreds of other applicants from across the country who apply for the annual Wayne Embry Fellowship, which includes a season working with the Raptors and studying under the likes of head coach Nurse and president Masai Ujiri. The Raptors liked Lewis so much they have hired him as 905 assistant coach.
“It’s amazing to be around these coaches every day,” said Lewis.
“Their professionalism and attention to detail is incredible. You don’t let stuff slide at this level. You hold people accountable. I am learning every day about how to teach and get the most out of players.”
The basketball journey began for Lewis during his playing career at Highland Secondary in the Comox Valley and then in sa国际传媒 West and U Sports for the Mount Royal University Cougars of Calgary. After his playing days, Lewis earned his masters degree in sport business from Loughborough University in England, renowned for its curriculum focusing on all aspects of sport. It included a practicum with English Premiership soccer club West Ham, after which Lewis returning to sa国际传媒 West hoops as assistant coach at Mount Royal.
“Bringing the most out of players involves creating confidence,” said Lewis, about his coaching approach.
“There are different ways to do that. To be a good athlete, you have to be yourself. The same with coaching. The best coaches are those who be who they are and not anybody else.”
Not that you can’t learn from others. That is the very essence of education and learning. Working with the Raptors coaching staff, including Nurse, has been an invaluable experience.
“Both teams [Raptors and 905] are aligned,” said Lewis.
“It’s amazing to see the relationship between Nick [Nurse] and the players and how they respect him because of his knowledge of the game and his credibility. He is a great communicator.”
To strive to be the best, it doesn’t hurt to learn from the best, and Lewis is absorbing well those lessons as he looks to climb the career coaching ladder.
