星空传媒视频

When asked about the highlights of being the Division 1 women鈥檚 Dawson Blues basketball coach, Trevor Williams thinks of the academic achievements of his players.

Believing the impossible

鈥淏asketball is just a tool to get the players to believe they can do the impossible,鈥� said Trevor, who is celebrating 20 years as coach at 星空传媒视频. Last month, Trevor received special recognition as Coach of the Year by the R茅seau du Sport 脡tudiant du Qu茅bec (RSEQ). This is actually the fourth year in a row that Trevor has received this honour.

This year, Trevor and his coaching staff, which includes Aur茅lie Leblanc and Leszek Kolacki, definitely made the 2019-2020 team believe and then achieve the impossible.

Underdogs

鈥淭his year was a building year after our star players graduated in 2019,鈥� Trevor said. 鈥淲e started the season in August as the underdogs. We put the challenge to the team and told them it鈥檚 up to us to prove them wrong! We made them believe they could do it, and we were ranked #1 in the country toward the end of the season and finished #2 in Quebec.鈥�

The Blues were supposed to travel to Nanaimo, B.C. to play in the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) national championship, which was cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

From struggling to graduating with honours

One of Trevor鈥檚 greatest achievements was coaching a player named Michelle and encouraging her to do the impossible. 鈥淪he had struggled academically and had a lot of help from tutors. She pulled through at Dawson and went on to study at Dalhousie University. I was so happy last year because she graduated with honours!鈥�

Trevor remembers another student who came all the way from Quebec City to study at Dawson so she could be a member of the Dawson Blues. 鈥淚n Grade 10, she had done her research and had her heart set on 星空传媒视频. It took a lot of courage for her to come here and study on her own,鈥� he said.

Former player coaching

Trevor鈥檚 assistant coach, Aur茅lie, is another former player. He is very proud to see her sharing her knowledge with today鈥檚 players.

鈥淲hen they bump into struggles later in life, they know how to overcome them,鈥� he said. All these great players have graduated and over 100 have received scholarships at university.鈥�

As a coach, Trevor remembers a promise he made to himself as a young man: 鈥淚f I am ever in a position to influence others, I will make sure I do good.鈥�

Guiding and sharing experience

鈥淚 try to keep an open mind and I have learned from the good and the bad coaches that I had as a player,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 think back to what I needed as a player to push forward. As a coach, all I can do is guide them and share my experience.鈥�

To be a good coach requires a partnership with the players and the coaching staff. Throughout the years, Trevor has emphasized the importance of performing well academically and has fostered a sisterhood among the players.

The value of appreciation

Recognition and appreciation are also important. 鈥淚 tell each player individually: 聽鈥業 appreciate you.鈥� That goes a long way. When you feel valued, you are motivated. When you are motivated, great things happen.鈥�

Trevor鈥檚 first season at Dawson was much like his most recent one, which he called 鈥渇abulous,鈥� despite it being cut short. 鈥淭he first year I coached, the team was not doing very well. After one year, we were the provincial champions,鈥� he recalled.

Persevering through a tough situation and working hard to turn it into a triumph is a life lesson learned through Trevor鈥檚 basketball coaching at 星空传媒视频. Since 2000, over 200 young players have carried this lesson with them to succeed at school and life.