News Archives: Get to know GPRC Wolves Men's Basketball coaching staff
Saturday, July 18th, 2020
GPRC Wolves Men's Basketball Head Coach, Evan Llyod.
We caught up with our GPRC Wolves Men’s Basketball Head Coach, Evan Lloyd, Manager, Christopher Draves, and Assistant Coaches, Lucas Gorgichuk, Rob Levy and Troy Sandboe to discuss what being a coach means to the them, some lighthearted fun and the potential they look for in athletes.
What is the best part of being a coach for you?
Lloyd: The best part of being a coach for me is doing what I love. I love the sport of basketball and I enjoy working with young men towards team-oriented goals. Seeing the players I coach have fun and get better because of competition or drills is a very fulfilling and enjoyable part of being a coach.
Draves: In my role as the team manager, it is my role to help Head Coach, Evan Llyod as much as possible. I attend most practices to run the clock and I take stats at games. The best part of being on this team though is the road trips. It is so much fun to be with the team on the road, especially early in the season as we all get to know one another. I also really enjoy working alongside Evan. I’ve known Evan for a long time now, and these last three years with him have been magnificent.
Gorgichuk: The best part of being a coach is working with passionate young athletes. Getting to the gym on an early morning and seeing new faces eager to get better fuels my drive to do what I can for these athletes. It always has been, and always will be about the players.
Levy: Watching the development of student athletes' personalities and skill level increase over the year and their career.
Sandboe: The relationships I have made with the players I have coached.
What’s your go to meal when you’re cooking?
Lloyd: I have so many favorite meals to cook. Depends on how I’m feeling that day but if I had to choose, I’d BBQ a steak.
Draves: My go to meal is steak, rice or baked potato and fresh vegetables.
Gorgichuk: A burrito bowl!
Levy: Grilled cheese and chunky soup.
Sandboe: I am not much of a cook, but I do the BBQing around our house…if it’s my turn to cook I would probably order pizza.
What way do you cut sandwiches and why?
Lloyd: I usually don’t cut my sandwiches; I love a good toasted peanut butter and jam for a bedtime snack.
Draves: I cut sandwiches only once and it’s not from corner to corner. One cut down the middle. Simple.
Gorgichuk: I don’t cut sandwiches because I don’t eat bread.
Levy: Down the middle so I can use the crust to grab onto, less crumbs this way.
Sandboe: Why would you cut sandwiches?
Who is your favorite sports figure and why?
Lloyd: My favorite sports figure is Steve Nash; I grew up watching Steve Nash during his time in Dallas and Phoenix. His style of play appealed to me along with the style at which his teams played. He inspired me to become a better basketball player through his leadership and constant display of teamwork. He always made his teammates better. Most people who know me would know this answer already. Steve Nash influenced me so much so that my wedding day was July 13th, Steve Nash’s team Canada Jersey was number 7 (July, 7th month) and Steve Nash’s NBA jersey was number 13.
Draves: Such a tough question as I follow so many sports. I’ll say Fred VanVleet (FVV) from the Toronto Raptors. I really enjoyed watching him during the championship run for the Raptors last season. In the back-up role behind Lowry, FVV would do whatever he could to help his team succeed. The team had many superstars, but he would show up and contribute and was an integral part of that championship.
Gorgichuk: Bill Belichick, I love what he embodies as a coach and as a leader. Do your job.
Levy: Steve Nash. I liked the way he played the game, team first. He was a multi-sport athlete and a great individual outside of his sport with multiple charities.
What coach influenced/influences you and why?
Lloyd: The coaches that influence or influenced me the most would have to be Mike D’antoni and Gregg Popovich from the NBA. I love what Mike did with the Phoenix Sun’s during the seven seconds or less offense, he changed the NBA and how it is now played. I loved the ball movement on Gregg Popovich’s teams and how beautiful they made the game seem, I try to translate that to the college level. I think the biggest influence on my coaching style and career would be Assistant Coach, Troy Sandboe. I’ve learned so much from him coaching against him at the high school level and now coaching with him at the college level. I am constantly learning from him; he is a constant source of knowledge and he has been coaching at the high school level for 20 plus years and is truly an inspiration to myself. He has been a great influence on my coaching career and I am truly privileged to work and learn from him.
Draves: I’ve had the luxury of working with wonderful coaches in my years at GPRC. I’ve learned something from all four of the coaches I’ve worked with. Shout out to Nicol, Waknuk, Graeme and Evan.
Gorgichuk: A coach that has had a big influence on me is Head Coach, Evan Llyod. Evan first let me assistant coach with him at Peace Wapiti Academy for two years before he left to be the lead Assistant Coach at GPRC. He gave me the opportunity to coach at Peace Wapiti Academy, in the club system, and the opportunity to be here at GPRC. I’ve learned so much from him and am thankful for the opportunity to continue coaching.
Levy: My high school coach. Former Halifax windjammer (Pro). He taught me that dedication is how to become better and it's based on the amount of effort and time you put in.
Sandboe: My high school basketball coach was my biggest influence and still influences me to this day; he is my friend and mentor. Not only did he teach us about work ethic, discipline, character, and integrity, he also instilled self-confidence in me.
What are your expectations from your players amid the COVID-19 pandemic?
Lloyd: My expectations of my players coming out of COVID-19 are to be in shape. A lot of what has gone on in the past five or six months has been crazy, and it is hard to improve your basketball ability or body over this time. My expectations are to be in shape and be prepared to work and do the little bit extra on the days you feel lazy. Start to do the little things well now so we can do the little things every day and it becomes routine when the season starts.
Draves: I would hope that each player has taken their off season seriously and is ready for competition when allowed to compete. A balance of work, workouts, getting shots up, and leisure time with friends. As with every year, I hope the players works hard, have fun and enjoy their experience at GPRC.
Gorgichuk: To be ready. It is important now more than ever to be getting in the hard work on your own time. Hard work never lies, and if you get into that kind of routine before the year starts its easier to maintain.
Levy: Players should be in shape and prepared for pre-season or jumping right into the season.
Sandboe: I would like to see them having put in a great deal of time improving individual skills like ball handling and shooting fundamentals as well as their personal fitness by doing individual, home, body-weight workouts. There is no excuse why a player cannot be significantly better when they return, they have been given extraordinary time to improve.
What makes a player coachable? What characteristics are the most important in a player that wants to learn?
Lloyd: I believe what makes a player coachable is the ability to listen and take constructive criticism. To get better as a player, we must understand what our weaknesses are, and sometimes that can be hard to hear. I also think with listening, you must have the ability to take what you hear and apply it, and work on those skills on your own time as well. The characteristics that are most important to a player that wants to learn is the willingness to turn their weaknesses into strengths, and to put in the work on their own time. A strong dedication to their craft, when no one is watching or when no one is telling them what they need to do. A lot of this is done in the off-season and down times where players can see most of their individual growth.
Draves: As the manager of the team, I don’t have as much to do with coachability of players. Due to this, I will answer another question. Favourite sport outside of Basketball? My favourite sport outside of basketball is hockey. Huge fan of the Edmonton Oilers.
Gorgichuk: A player is coachable when he is open minded to multiple ways of doing things. A favourite quote of mine is, “Always learning, learning all ways.” I think it is important to always be learning, and always be improving.
Levy: Eager and ready to learn, listen, take in advice and try the advice. Characteristics that are important in a player that wants to learn are dedication, time, effort and willingness to ask for help.
Sandboe: Players who work hard are easy to coach, but beyond that, players who go above and beyond with their work ethic in and out of practice, who are engaged in every aspect of the team (individual workouts, improving their fitness/strength, meetings, etc.), who ask intelligent questions, who are trustworthy, have integrity, character and who are leaders will be the most successful players in their sport and in their life.
What is a personality trait/characteristic that you value most in a player?
Lloyd: The characteristics that I value most in players are hardworking, honesty, determination, mentally tough and coachable. Although the question only asked for one, I think all of these are important in a student athlete. I also think these are extremely important in life whether it's your relationships with people, or at your workplace. I think if I get a player that I can help get better at any of these traits that will better help him in his life then I’ve done my job as a coach or a mentor to this athlete. I hope over the hundreds of athletes I’ve coached that I’ve helped them in some positive way in their life.
Draves: I value sense of humour the most. I enjoy being around the team and cracking jokes with the team in between drills during practice. A player who has a great sense of humour makes the sarcastic banter between us funnier and lighthearted.
Gorgichuk: What I value most in a player is grit.
Levy: Trust. I value player who provide me with the most effort they can provide, they can follow the game plan and can communicate with their teammates in a respectful manner.
Sandboe: There are several that I believe in, but I think integrity is the most important to me, it means that you are true to your word, that you are trustworthy, that you can be counted on, and you say what you mean and mean what you say in a blunt manner while being tactful.
Learn more about the GPRC Wolves Men's Basketball team here.
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