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Dinos coach Vanhooren takes charge of Canada's U-19 basketball squad

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Dan Vanhooren is ready for a new hoops challenge.

The decorated University of Calgary Dinos men’s coach is now in charge of the national under-19 boys’ team, as announced Tuesday by Canada Basketball.

“I am honoured to take part and look forward to working with the Canada Basketball staff in pursuing the goals of the organization,” said Vanhooren.  “It is an exciting time in Canadian basketball with the number of players demonstrating such a high level of talent.

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“Our U19 coaches and staff should be equally excited to face the responsibility of continuing to develop our talent with similar enthusiasm and energy to those who have come before our group.”

Now in his 19th season as the head coach of the Dinos men’s basketball squad, Vanhooren was named the 2018-19 U Sports Coach of the Year after leading Calgary to an undefeated 20-0 regular-season record and their second consecutive U Sports Final 8 championship appearance.

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Last season, Vanhooren and the Dinos captured their first national championship in program history. Since taking over as head coach in 2000, Vanhooren has led Calgary to five Canada West conference crowns.

Prior to joining the Dinos, Vanhooren served as head coach of the Medicine Hat College Rattlers while teaching in their Health Sciences faculty. In 2000, Vanhooren led the Rattlers to a bronze-medal finish and was named the ACAC South coach of the year.

Internationally, the Red Deer native has served as an assistant coach with Canada at the Taipei 2017 Universiade and last summer at the FIBA U17 Basketball World Cup 2018.

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As a player, Vanhooren spent three seasons with the University of Alberta Golden Bears before moving on to the UBC Thunderbirds.  While at UBC, Vanhooren worked for the NBA’s Vancouver Grizzlies during in their inaugural season.

Last year, Vanhooren coached Team Red in the BioSteel All-Canadian Basketball Game.

Vanhooren is trained in Canada Basketball’s train to compete certification and holds a masters of sport psychology from UBC.

The FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup 2019 will take place from June 29-July 7 in Heraklion, Greece. Canada is in Group B along with Mali, Australia and Latvia.  Canada enters the tournament coming off a historic gold medal at the FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup 2017.

Canada’s youth men are currently ranked No. 2 in the world.

— Postmedia news services

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