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Ooks Name Kiera Lyons as Women's Basketball Head Coach
Ooks Name Kiera Lyons as Women's Basketball Head Coach
May 17, 2022

Kiera Lyons has been named the head coach of the NAIT Ooks women's basketball team. 

The team is coming off of an incredible season where they won CCAA gold and Lyons says she can help them keep the momentum going. "I'm thrilled to be given the opportunity to take over such an established program. It's an exciting challenge that I feel very passionate about and ready for."

Lyons has an extensive basketball background. After going through the provincial team program and helping re-establish her high school as one of the best 1A programs in the province, she played two years for the Augustana Vikings and helped lead them to their first playoff appearance in 8 years. She then played three years as a Huskie at the University of Saskatchewan- a team that had just graduated five starters the season before she arrived. She finished her career as a captain with a Canada West championship and two Final Eight appearances.

Since moving back to Alberta, she has been a mentor, a coach, a public speaker, and a broadcast analyst, all within the world of basketball. She has worked with the NAIT women's program in previous years, as well as the Lakeland Rustlers as a player development coach, and last summer was an assistant coach with the reigning 2021 Canadian Elite Basketball League Champions, The Edmonton Stingers. 

When asked what she is most looking forward to this season, Lyons said, "I'm looking forward to cultivating a culture of confident young women and passing along the lessons and skills that I was fortunate enough to learn through the game of basketball."

The department is excited to add Lyons to their coaching roster; NAIT Athletics Manager Jordan Richey said, "NAIT Athletics is so happy to have Kiera join our coaching staff for the upcoming season. Kiera's calm demeanour and extensive basketball experience, combined with her pre-existing relationship with the team as their strength and conditioning coach, make her the perfect choice to take over the program. I am excited to see the coach she will become at NAIT."

Welcome, Kiera!