Greg Francis

Greg Francis
Sport(s) Basketball
Biographical details
Born (1974-04-04) April 4, 1974
Toronto, Ontario
Playing career
1994–1997 Fairfield
Position(s) Guard
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
2005–present Canadian Junior National Team
2009–present University of Alberta
Accomplishments and honors
Awards
As player:
Fairfield Hall of Fame (2003)
MAAC Tournament MVP (1997)
Second-team All-MAAC (1996)

Greg Francis (born April 4, 1974 in Toronto, Ontario)[1] is the manager of Men's High Performance at Canada Basketball. He was previously the head coach of the University of Waterloo Warriors men's basketball team and the head coach of the University of Alberta Golden Bears, where he replaced coach Don Horwood, who manned the Bears bench for 26 seasons.[2] Francis was also the head coach of the Canadian junior men’s national team,[3] assistant coach of the Canadian senior men's national team and the Canadian men's basketball national coach.[4]

Francis was a member of the Canadian National men's basketball team, that finished seventh in the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia and fourth at the 2003 Tournament of the Americas.

Collegiate career

Francis played for the Fairfield University basketball team from 1994 to 1997, finishing his career with 1,570 points, ranking fifth all-time at the school. He also holds the school record for most three-point baskets made in a career with 230. During his senior season, he helped lead the Stags to the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference title and the 1997 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament.

He almost single-handedly upset the North Carolina Tar Heels in the first round of the tournament scoring 26 points including eight three-pointers. Following the game, North Carolina coach Dean Smith said "I had to find Francis after the game but I couldn't shake his hand because it was so hot."[5]

Fairfield recognized his accomplishments in 2003 when the school inducted Francis into its Athletic Hall of Fame.[6]

Professional career

Francis played professionally in the British Basketball League for the Worthing Bears and was selected to the UK All-Star Team during the 1997-98 season and the Chester Jets during the 1999-00 season.[7]

References

  1. ↑ Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill. "Greg Francis". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 11 November 2012. Retrieved 22 June 2012.
  2. ↑ Greg Francis named new Golden Bears basketball coach
  3. ↑ http://www.basketball.ca/en/hm/inside.php?sid=1&id=874&PHPSESSID=8c0a671c9f9a0cb606009f10f65a48f7
  4. ↑ Greg Francis New Golden Bears Basketball Head Coach
  5. ↑ Francis Too Hot to Handle
  6. ↑ Fairfield University :: 2003 Hall of Fame Inductees Archived 2012-01-25 at the Wayback Machine.
  7. ↑ Chester Jets Club History
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