EDMONTON, ALTA.- The Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT) announced today the hiring of Slav Kornik as the new head coach of the NAIT Ooks men's basketball program.

Slav spent the past two years at the University of Alberta as an assistant coach with the Golden Bears program, where the team earned a berth in the U Sports Final 8 national championship in both seasons. Before joining the Bears staff, Slav spent three years at Strathcona High School in Edmonton as the senior boys head coach and one year with the Archbishop O'Leary senior boys team as an assistant.

Kornik has also been on four coaching staffs with the Alberta Basketball Association's provincial teams, including two years as the U15 boys head coach. Additionally, he has been a coach for several years with the Alberta Basketball Association's Centre for Performance and Targeted Training Strategy programs.

"We are so proud to name Slav the new NAIT men's basketball head coach.  Not only was Slav a previous NAIT student but he was also captain of our 2003 CCAA national champion men's basketball team," said NAIT Athletics Manager Jordan Richey. "Slav's knowledge of NAIT, coaching experience with Basketball Alberta and the U of A, and strong leadership skills leave no doubt that he will be a successful coach at NAIT."

As a player, Slav spent four years with the NAIT Ooks, where he won two ACAC championships as well as one CCAA national championship in 2002-2003 where he was named tournament MVP. He completed his career as a four-time conference all-star, a CCAA Academic All-Canadian. By the end of his playing time with the Ooks, Kornik was second all-time in the ACAC total assists and third all-time in total points.

"To be hired as the program's head coach is a dream come true and a homecoming of sorts for me. I have so many amazing memories from my time as a basketball player and student at NAIT," said Kornik. "The school and basketball program have helped mold me into the basketball coach and person I am today. I can't wait to get started and help the program continue it's history of success."

During his time at NAIT Slav graduated from the Radio and Television program. That combined with his BA in Communications from Athabasca University would lead to him spending the last decade with Global News Edmonton, primarily as an online reporter.

Slav's official first day will be Monday, May 6^th, but will be available for media contact as early as tomorrow.

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Sam Nahrgang • Sports Information • (780) 471-7606 • snahrgang@nait.ca