Ep 70: Allison McNeil

Allison McNeill, former Head Coach of the SWNT for Canada Basketball and one of the all time great coaches in Canadian basketball, pulls up on Canada Hoops! Allison sits down with your boy Matty to share her basketball story. Allison lets us know what she has been doing since retirement; although she is still connected to the game and tells us that in some way basketball will always be a part of her life. Allison talks about the state and impact of womens' basketball right now and how she knew this time would come. Allison takes us back to growing up in Princeton and Salmon Arm, BC, working for her family business at a young age while learning and loving basketball. Allison moves from Princeton to Salmon Arm to play the game and meets her lifelong friend; the legendary Bev Smith. Allison talks about her time as a Jewel before she heads to Laurentian University to become a Voyageur. Allison won two National Championships at Laurentian before moving to the University of Oregon to re-unite with Bev Smith. After her time as a Duck Allison starts her pro career before she ends up as the Head Coach at Simon Fraser University. After a successful 13 year tenure at SFU Allison heads back to Oregon again to join Bev as the associate Head Coach for the Ducks.

In 2002 Allison is named the Head Coach of the SWNT for Canada Basketball. Allison would lead the SWNT for 10 years ; taking the Program from 22nd to 8th in the world rankings. Allisons' time as the Head Coach of the SWNT culminated with qualifying for and competing in the 2012 London Olympics. Allison gives us great insight on Canada Basketball during her tenure and shares her thoughts on the Program now and where the SWNT can potentially go on the world stage. And you know Allison drops a historic Top 5 of all time for Canada Basketball on us. It was a privilege to sit down with Allison and hear her stories. Much love to Allison McNeill for joining us on Canada Hoops!

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