“You couldn’t ask for a better candidate”. That’s how Thompson Rivers University Athletic Director Ken Olynyk describes the hiring of an interim Mens Basketball head coach.   The WolfPack are pleased to announce that Thom Gillespie has taken over the team effective immediately.

“It’s a great opportunity to bring the TRU Basketball program through the initial steps to becoming  one of the schools at the forefront of the CIS” says Gillespie from his home in Fredericton, New Brunswick.  The 42 year old  Gillsespie spent the last  12 years with the University of New Brunswick Varsity Reds  men’s program, first as an assistant and then the last nine seasons as head coach.  

“He’s solid both technically and tactically”  says Olynyk of Gillsespie, who was the AUS coach of the year in 2002 and 2004.  He is also a two time winner of the Petro Can Olympic Torch Scholarship and was a national candidate for the 3 M Coaching Award in 2002.  

“I pride myself on having teams which have great work ethic,”  states Gillespie, who has also had stints with Basketball New Brunswick (Head coach of Provincial U-16, U-17 and U-19 boys teams) and has been a guest coach and assistant  coach with Canada Basketballs Senior National and Student teams.  “I believe I’m a fundamentals oriented coach”.

“I was looking for a positive fit for our program,” says Olynyk  “and Thom has been there before, as an interim head coach (U Vic 1995-96),  and a full time head coach.”

“I ‘m hoping to touch base with the WolfPack’s returning players and recruits as soon as possible,” Gillespie explains  “  We are starting fresh and I want them to be excited about the rebuilding program at TRU”.

When asked why he would want to leave a full time position for one with only a 12 month window,  Gillespie stated he wanted to move West and closer to BC (where his life partner Cindy is from).   As for the “Interim” role:  “There are no guarantees this job will last more than 7 months. But what better way to show TRU what I can do and what I can bring to the program rather than just submitting my resume and hoping for the best if this job does become permanent.”

Gillespie plans to begin the process by attending the National U -17 Boys Basketball Championships in PEI in a couple of weeks before heading to Kamloops to start preparing for the 2008-09 CIS season.