The Camosun Chargers women’s basketball team has a new head coach this season: John Dedrick.
With 30 years of experience, Dedrick has coached at St. Albert Catholic School, University of Alberta, Grant MacEwan, and Shawnigan Lake School. He also co-founded Panthawks Academy, an invitational academy for elite junior high and high-school girls in St. Albert, Alberta. Dedrick has already started a full-court press with the Chargers.
“I think a mantra that I would try and bring into Camosun is, play up tempo, be extremely difficult to play against defensively, make teams earn points as opposed to giving them that, and then, obviously, be extremely well prepared,” says Dedrick.
Dedrick describes his coaching style as loud and very communicative both on and off the bench. By building relationships with players, he can demand a lot more from them. Getting to know the players is where Dedrick has started his work with the Chargers.
“I’ve been watching all the videos, anything on YouTube that has the team playing from last year and the recruits that are coming in, that I know, that the previous coach has committed to, I knew nothing of them. So I had to try and get them to send me videos and then watch them and we’re trying to find out information about them, and then I’ve met or FaceTimed with pretty well all the girls; I think I’m only missing a couple,” he says. “It’s going to be a good blend of… veterans and young people or young rookies that can kind of step in, and we’ve got a transfer coming in that’s confirmed, who I’m excited about. So, I think we can make some noise in the PACWEST.”
Dedrick says that a goal of his is improving on the team’s 9 in 15 record, and he says that he’s focused on improving the style of play and competitiveness in every game.
“I have a lot of success at either continuing with a good program and building on that or building a program to the point of where they’re a championship contender every year,” he says. “I would try and bring that mindset to Camosun.”
Dedrick wants to create an open dialogue with Carrie Watts, head coach of the UVic women’s basketball team, so girls who express interest in playing but who may not have the necessary skills for university-level basketball could have another option.
“If we have a relationship she can say, ‘Okay, you know what? Can you go play at Camosun for a couple years? I know John knows what he’s doing. Then we’ll see where you are in year three and see if there can be a jump back to U Sports or what have you.’ Then at least having that open dialogue about players in the area or on the mainland, and at the same time, supporting UVic and its tradition as well,” says Dedrick.
Dedrick is also looking forward to working with the Chargers’ women’s basketball assistant coaches. Chelsea Espenberg will be returning for another season and will be joined by former Chargers Sophie Leslie and Rhiannon Ware.
“Giving them a voice and empowering them to be mentors and role models… I really look forward to watching them interact, because as a male coaching females, I think it’s super important to have that perspective on the bench,” he says. “I’m looking forward to delegating to them some responsibilities, and a voice, and then watching them, all three of them, just grow with that. So that’s something that I’m very excited about as well.”