Coaching Staff
JOHN ABBOTT HIRES NEW BASKETBALL COACH
MONTREAL, QC - June 16, 2009 - John Abbott College Athletic Director, Steve Shaw, is very pleased to announce the hiring of David King as the Islanders new men’s basketball coach. He will be replacing Scott Mawhinney who, after 5 years at the helm of the Islander program, resigned at the end of May.
Dave King - Head Coach
Owner and head instructor with Hoopster Academy, David is well known in the basketball community and will be a solid addition to the John Abbott coaching staff.
“I was very impressed with the quality of applicants, especially at this time of the year, and we are very excited to have David join our department.” commented Shaw. “He has terrific ethics and morals and has been coaching basketball in the Montreal area for many years. He will also be a strong addition to the FQSE AAA league.”
With Hoopster Academy, David coaches with the Sport-étude program at John Rennie High School and the English Montreal School Board. He also runs camps and clinics and does individual training. He was the Head Coach for the Montreal Royal of the ABA from 2007 to 2008. He was also the Developmental coach with the Quebec Provincial Centre for Excellence in Laval from 2002 to 2007, and has been part of the Canada Basketball National Coaching Pool from 2002 to 2006. He was the Head Coach of the Quebec Provincial Team from 2003-2005 and was an Assistant Coach with the McGill University Redmen from 2000 to 2002. He is also NCCP level 3 certified and currently working on level 4.
A resident of Dorval, David graduated from Bishop’s University in 1992 with a Bachelor of Arts (Sociology) and from Champlain Regional College (Lennoxville) in 1985. David and his wife Anna have two children, Michael (age 8) and Miles (age 4).
Linton Garner - Assistant Coach
Linton Garner has coached West Island at several levels including John Rennie High School Bantam in 2001, Midget and Juvenile AAA at WILBA from 2003 – 2005 and at the West Island Outdoor Basketball League at all levels since 2001. Coach Garner has coached throughout the Montreal Area with organizations such as the University Settlement Community Center, Kingston Community Center, NDG and Parc Avenue YMCA’s, Unity Boy’s & Girls Club, the West Island Black Community Association and the Lachine Basketball Association where he presides as President and coach of their Juvenile AA inter-city team. Coach Garner is the father of former Islander Captain, Taylor Garner, now playing at Concordia, and also has a son Jordan presently attending John Rennie. Mr. Garner has been a long time community organizer active in various social and political domains and along with his wife of 24 years Elaine Sher, an Integration Aide at Thorndale Elementary School. Linton Garner is presently the Community Development Coordinator for the Community Learning Centre Project a special initiative within the English education sector of Quebec.
Jim Pierson – Assistant Coach
Jim joins the coaching staff this season and brings with him a wide range of experience. His main responsibility this season with the Islanders will be the defence. He is a graduate of North Carolina A & T (1994) with a Physical Education degree (Bachelor of Science). He was a head coach and an assistant at 4 high schools in North Carolina for 15 years. He was an assistant coach at High Point Andrews in 2000-01 when they won the state championship. Jim also coached the 2000 AAU state champions out of Greensboro, NC. He came to Canada in 2001 and is currently teaching math and physical education at Lindsay Place High School in Pointe-Claire, where he has also coached basketball the past 7 years, winning 4 city championships. As a player he was captain of his high school team in Greensboro and a League of Gentlemen champion in 2005. A resident of Dorval, Jim and his wife Anna have 2 children Anthony (5) and Bianca (10).
Jonathan Merritt – Assistant Coach
Jonathan is a former John Abbott Islander basketball player (2004-2006). After John Abbott, he attended McGill University and recently received his Bachelor of Arts in Honors History. He is currently enrolled in Secondary Education at McGill and has actively been involved as a head coach with the West Island Lakers intercity program for the last four years. With the Islanders, Jonathan will be coaching the guards.
