OLDS — Sheldon Frank has always wanted to be a head coach in the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) while remaining in central Alberta, where he was born and raised.
Now, Frank has that very opportunity, as he is the new head coach of the Olds College Broncos women’s basketball team after spending last season as an assistant with the Red Deer Polytechnic Queens.
“When the Olds position opened up, I knew it would be a great opportunity for me to chase my dream while also staying in the community I love,” he said.
“For 10 years, I've been working to develop the quality of basketball in Central Alberta, and this was a great opportunity to continue at a higher level.”
“We are so fortunate to have Sheldon join our staff,” said Trina Radcliffe, athletics manager at the Olds College of Agriculture & Technology.
“He is a young, up-and-coming coach with incredible enthusiasm and knowledge of the game.
“His values strongly align with those of Broncos Athletics and combine that with his experience coaching in the women's game and coming off an (ACAC) championship season, I believe the sky's the limit for the Broncos women's basketball program.”
Frank’s developmental roots in basketball run deep, serving as president of the Central Alberta Basketball Club and coaching U16 and U17 girls squads within the organization.
He also previously coached senior girls basketball at Olds Koinonia Christian School, with multiple Zone appearances and a league championship on his resume.
In taking over the Broncos program, which finished 10-11 last season before falling in an ACAC play-in game against the Briercrest College Clippers, Frank is committed to creating a supportive environment balancing development and performance.
“My first priority, before anything else, is to make sure I treat each athlete as a human being first, and not just a player,” he said.
“I recognize the role that mental health plays in on-court performance and want to make sure we as a coaching staff observe and respect that aspect of our roster.”
Establishing a positive culture is pivotal to Frank’s team-building process, with equality and respect serving as the foundation.
“Whether you are an All-Conference player or a rookie with limited minutes, your role on the team is critical,” he said.
“We will win, and lose, as a team. It's important that athletes trust and can communicate with the coaches, and that trust is reciprocated back to the players.”
Frank comes to the Broncos on the heels of an ACAC championship season with the Queens, which parlayed into a fourth-place finish at the CCAA women’s basketball national championship.
During his tenure with the Queens, Frank learned about the importance of setting expectations and not accepting less.
“Not wavering in that pursuit is critical to achieving success,” he said.
“We will ask a lot from our players in Olds, and we won't waver in those expectations. In return, as a coaching staff, our job is to help each player accomplish those goals.”
Looking ahead to the 2023-24 season, Frank is committed to putting a Broncos team on the floor that won’t be outworked or outhustled.
“I believe in empowering players to make their own decisions on the court and playing loose, which results in a fast-paced and intense game,” he said.
“Our defence will set the tone, and I expect our team to make a lot of noise this year in the ACAC. The goal will always be to compete for a national championship, nothing less.”
The women’s basketball Broncos will tip off their 2023-24 campaign in Saskatchewan against Briercrest on Oct. 20.
Geordie Carragher is an Olds College Sports Information and Esports coordinator.
