BECCARIA NAMED HEAD COACH OF NIAGARA WOMEN'S BASKETBALL PROGRAM

WELLAND, Ont. - The Niagara College Department of Athletics & Recreation is pleased to announce the hiring of Mike Beccaria as the head coach of the women's basketball program. Beccaria has been a coach at Niagara College for over 15 years including three seasons as the head coach of the men's basketball program.

Niagara College Manager of Athletics & Recreation Matthew Davies commented, "Mike Beccaria has been a key part of our men's basketball program for years and we are excited to have him at the helm of the women's program. He is a fantastic communicator and a great basketball mind."

The new head coach describes his coaching style as "focused on the development of individual skills and working on the small nuances of the game. If we take care of these things first, we will have success on the court."

The shift from the men's game to the women's is not a concern for the local Welland native. "I think the concepts that I believe in will work well. I think the change in the style of play is what's most exciting about this opportunity," expressed Beccaria.

Aside from the on court responsibilities that go along with leading a post-secondary basketball program, Beccaria is excited about the opportunity to work closely with the Niagara community. "The Niagara Region has always supported the Knights, and the experience that student-athletes can gain from giving back to that community is truly valuable."

The Knights qualified for the OCAA playoffs last season but were eliminated in the qualifying round by the Seneca Sting.

The women's basketball program will lose 2012-13 team MVP and Niagara College Female Athlete of the Year Alanna Arundell due to graduation, but Coach Beccaria feels "optimistic about the upcoming season. It's a new beginning for me as a coach, but the team has a strong returning core group of players."

Among the returning players are center and leading scorer Kaitlyn McPherson and team captain Shelby Johnston.

Beccaria added, "we have a group of talented and experienced returning forwards. This offseason our emphasis will be the recruitment of guards."

Davies continued, "during the selection process we liked Coach Beccaria's vision for the recruitment of elite student-athletes that will enhance the high performance culture of the Niagara College women's basketball program."

When asked about his recruiting plan for the upcoming season Coach Beccaria stated, "I believe the strengths of Niagara College are the academic programs of the institution. There is a culture of student satisfaction, and tremendous support for the Knights intercollegiate programs."

Beccaria identified his on court goals as "winning OCAA medals and establishing Niagara College as a perennial women's basketball contender."

In the more immediate future Coach Beccaria and the rest of the women's basketball program will help lead three sections of the annual Niagara Kids' College summer camp program.

Source: Niagara College