A trio of former student-athletes will be returning to the court for the Niagara Knights this season. However, they will be trading in the jerseys for a clipboard.
Steve Stone and Alex Botelho will join new women's volleyball head coach Nathan Janzen as they look to improve upon last season's OCAA silver medal. In addition, CJ Smith will join women's basketball head coach Mike Beccaria on the sidelines for the upcoming season. They will be joining Kelly Slappendel, an assistant coach with the women's soccer program, and men's volleyball assistant coach Brad Wall as former Knights athletes patrolling the sidelines this season.
All three of the returning athletes bring a wealth of academic and athletic excellence that will set a tremendous example for the current crop of Knights athletes. Matthew Davies, Director of Athletics of Athletics and Recreation, is ecstatic to welcome the trio back to Niagara. "Steve, Alex, and CJ were all tremendous student-athletes in their time at Niagara, and they are a very welcome addition to the Knights program," said Davies. "They each bring a unique perspective to the game and understand what it takes to succeed both in the classroom and on the court at Niagara College."
Stone, the Knights most recent graduate, competed for the Knights just last season. During the 2014-15 season he led the Knights to an OCAA gold medal and CCAA bronze medal and was named the OCAA Championship MVP. He also took home the Knights 2014-15 Leadership Award at the annual awards banquet. Last season Stone was named an OCAA West Division First-Team All-Star, and became a two-time CCAA Academic All-Canadian.
"I love coaching. I knew once my playing career came to an end that I would coach somewhere," said Stone of why he returned to Niagara. "Coach Janzen has lots of experience so I can learn a lot from him while also passing along my knowledge to the team."
Botelho competed as a Knight from 2012-15 and was a key cog in the Knights OCAA women's volleyball bronze medal performance in the 2014-15 season. In 2013-14 she was named the Niagara Knights Female Athlete of the Year, an OCAA Second-Team All-Star, and a CCAA Academic All-Canadian. She was also awarded the Knights women's volleyball team's leadership award in back-to-back seasons.
Botelho echoed Stone's comments about why she wanted to return to Niagara to coach at her alma mater. "There was no doubt in my mind that Niagara is a place I love to call home," said Botelho. "I couldn't think of anywhere else that I would like to be to gain valuable coaching experience."
"Steve and Alex are driven to help the team succeed both on and off the court," said coach Janzen of his assistant coaches. "As former Knights they set a great example for our young athletes and provide invaluable insight into the great history of our program."
Rounding out the trio of returning alumni is former men's basketball player CJ Smith, who suited up for the Knights from 2008-11. He was a member of the last men's basketball team to bring home an OCAA medal for Niagara, capturing bronze during the 2008-09 season. In 2010-11 Smith was named the Niagara Knights Male Athlete of the Year and was an OCAA West Division Second-Team All-Star.
Coach Beccaria, a coach of Smith's during his career at Niagara, knows first hand what he can add to the coaching staff. "Having a former play who was so incredibly dedicated is a huge positive for us. He knows basketball and he knows the value of how far hard work can go," said Beccaria.
The new coaches will get their first taste of regular season action on consecutive days in November. The women's basketball team hosts the Humber Hawks on Thursday, November 3rd in the 2nd Annual Blue & White Home Opener. The women's volleyball team will welcome the Mohawk Mountaineers the following night in their home opener.
