Kyle Julius

Kyle Julius
Saigon Heat
Position Head coach
League ASEAN Basketball League
Personal information
Born (1979-09-20) September 20, 1979
Thunder Bay, Ontario
Nationality Canadian
Listed height 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Career information
College
Career history
As coach:
2014–2015 Mississauga Power
2015–2017 London Lightning
2017–present Saigon Heat
Career highlights and awards

Kyle Julius (born June 20, 1979) is a former Canadian professional basketball player and is currently the head coach for Vietnamese team Saigon Heat of the ASEAN Basketball League. A former Canadian men's national team player, he has been considered one of Canada's most experienced and talented basketball minds. He shares training tips and basketball experience through short articles published on NorthPoleHoops.[1]

Early life and career

Julius was born on June 20, 1979 and brought up in Thunder Bay, Ontario. He grew up playing ice hockey, a very popular sport in the area. However, his interest in basketball grew, and in eighth grade, he began training with Lakehead University's star point guard John LaPlante. He often did two-a-days under LaPlante's direction and was inspired by his work ethic. In ninth and tenth grade, Julius began training frequently with the Lakehead basketball team. He got into fights on numerous occasions.[2] In his senior season of high school basketball, Julius played with Cathedral High School in Hamilton, Ontario. The team finished the year with an undefeated record, and he helped them win the Ontario Federation of School Athletic Associations (OFSAA) AAA title in 1998 under coach Mark Walton.[2][3] Julius averaged 14.0 points for the Gaels that season, shooting .500 on field goals and .480 from beyond the arc.[4]

Julius did not have access to an Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) basketball team in Thunder Bay. However, he constantly received advice from his father, Stu Julius, who coached college basketball in the area. Stu would often examine film and study the game with his sons.[2] Kyle said that it became a part of his everyday life, and a majority of his conversations with his father concerned the game of basketball.[2] He wrote on North Pole Hoops, "My dad opened the gym and my mom pushed me, basketball was our foundation and the game was my life."[2]

Collegiate career

On April 10, 1998, Julius signed a National Letter of Intent to play with the Furman Paladins men's basketball team, which played at the NCAA Division I level. Paladins head coach Larry Davis approached Julius primarily because of his ability as a three-point shooter.[4] Davis commented on Julius, "He is an outstanding shooter who has excellent overall guard skills and a tremendous worth ethic, and he has played in one of the best high school programs in North America with a perennial winning tradition."[4] Julius became Furman's fifth recruit for the team's 1998–99 season.[4] He later considered it one of his favorite moments of his entire career.[5] Julius made his first appearance on the collegiate stage on November 14, 1998 against Stetson, helping the Paladins win the game, 66–59.

Julius was named to the NCAA SOCON All Rookie team, a major accomplishment for a freshman from Canada at that time.

Julius returned to Canada to play for the University of Guelph Gryphons for three OUA seasons from 2001-02 to 2003-04. He was a tournament all-star in 2003 when Guelph finished second in the national championship event in Halifax and he was a second-team All-Canadian, fourth in the country in scoring average (21.23 points per game) and the University of Guelph's male athlete of the year in his final season with the Gryphons.

Coaching career

Mississauga Power

On August 18, 2014, the Mississauga Power of the National Basketball League of Canada (NBL) officially announced the hiring of Julius as their new head coach.[6] However, the team folded upon the creation of the NBA Development League team, Raptors 905.[7]

London Lightning

On August 19, 2015 it was announced that Julius would be the third head coach for the London Lightning of the NBL Canada. He returned to the team after playing two games for them in 2011. The previous Lightning head coach, Carlos Knox, had been fired in the earlier weeks after he hid positive drug tests from player Jonathan Mills.[8][9] Julius said, "London is an amazing city with some of the best sports fans in the country. I can't wait to get started and pour my soul into making the city and organization proud."[9]

Julius led the London Lightning to the championship in his second season. He set 14 records during this historical season. He built the most successful team in the history of the league in only his third year coaching.

Julius spent two seasons with the Lightning, taking them to the league finals both years. Last year the Lightning lost to Halifax in seven games. The next season, London defeated Halifax in six games. Julius orchestrated two of the best years of the London Lightning, with an overall 61–19 regular season record and a 21–8 mark in the playoffs. In the 2016–17 season, London broke their own league record for most wins in a single season with 35. They had 33 in 2012–13, the last time they won the NBL Canada championship. However, during the playoff, Julius informed team owner Vito Frijia that he would be leaving the Lightning after the playoffs concluded.[10]

International

On August 2017, Julius was signed by Saigon Heat of the ASEAN Basketball League (ABL), replacing British coach Tony Garbelotto.[11]

Kyle Julius was the new Head Coach for 3D Global Sports Canada at the 39th William Jones Cup, held annually in Taipei City, Taiwan, since 1977.

Personal life

Julius is a well-known figure in the Canadian basketball community. He is the founder of A-Game Hoops, which is a highly successful off season, in season and post season basketball training system.

Julius has developed a reputation as one of Canada's best basketball skill and development instructors. He has developed over 50 Canadian high school players who went on to earn NCAA DI scholarships. He has trained over 100 professional players, including NBA players Andrew Wiggins, Kelly Olynyk, Anthony Bennett, Kevin Pangos and Andrea Bargnani. He has helped train 67 Canadians currently playing professionally in Europe. He developed and recruited players like Royce White, who won a NBL-Canada Championship with the London Lightning.

Julius is also the head coach for A-Game Hoops' Men's Developmental Team, which he has coached to 55-11 since 2007.[12]

Accomplishments and awards

Julius excelled as a player before founding his basketball development program. His career accomplishments as a player and coach to date include:

  • Led Cathedral High School to an undefeated record and OFSAA AAA championship
  • 1998/1999 Southern Conference All Rookie Team at Furman University (Div 1, NCAA)
  • 2004 All-Canadian at University of Guelph
  • 2nd all time leading scorer in school history at University of Guelph
  • Member of 2005 Canadian National Team
  • Played professionally in Italy
  • First former NBLC player to make the jump to head coach. Julius appeared in two games for the London Lightning in the league's inaugural season in 2011.
  • Currently the only Canadian Head Coach in the NBLC[12]
  • 2016 2017 NBLC Coach of the Year and League Champion
  • Season record, league record 35-5
  • Set league record for most Coach of the Month Awards
  • Set league record: best record in history of the league
  • Set league record: longest winning streak in history of the league: 14 games
  • Set league record: longest winning streak in history of the league: 17 games
  • Set league record: longest playoff winning streak in history of the league: 8 games
  • Set league record for made 3s in a game: 24
  • League leader: PPG, FG% 3PT% 3PT made per game, asst., steals, margin of victory
  • Set 8 franchise records
  • Recruited and developed Royce White, former NBA 16th overall draft pick in the 2012 NBA draft

References

  1. ↑ http://northpolehoops.com/author/kyle-julius/#.VCbyevldXfI
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Julius, Kyle. "My Name is Kyle Julius and Basketball is in My Blood". NorthPoleHoops.com. Retrieved 25 October 2015.
  3. ↑ "Power Announce Kyle Julius as Head Coach". PowerBasketball.ca. Archived from the original on 16 October 2015. Retrieved 25 October 2015.
  4. 1 2 3 4 "Canadian Wing Guard Kyle Julius Becomes Fifth Furman Basketball Recruit". Furman University. Retrieved 27 October 2015.
  5. ↑ "Exclusive Interview with Kyle Julius". Eurobasket.com. Retrieved 27 October 2015.
  6. ↑ http://www.mississauga.com/sports-story/4764656-power-hire-new-coach/
  7. ↑ "NBL commissioner says league can survive loss of Mississauga Power". Toronto Star. 25 June 2015. Retrieved 17 August 2015.
  8. ↑ "London Lightning set to name Kyle Julius head coach". The London Free Press. 17 August 2015. Retrieved 17 August 2015.
  9. 1 2 "LONDON LIGHTNING WELCOME COACH KYLE JULIUS TO CLUB". LightningBasketball.ca. Retrieved 19 August 2015.
  10. ↑ "London Lightning coach, owner deny serious conflict led to coach quitting". The London Free Press. 13 June 2017.
  11. ↑ Kyle Julius Signed as New Head Coach for the Saigon Heat
  12. 1 2 "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2014-09-27. Retrieved 2014-09-27. Retrieved 27 September 2014.
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