NEWS: Gee-Gees men’s basketball welcome Damian Buckley as assistant coach

The Ottawa Gee-Gees men's basketball team is proud to welcome Damian Buckley to its coaching staff for the upcoming 2022-23 season. 

Buckley joins the Gee-Gees after spending the 2022 season as an assistant coach with the Ottawa BlackJacks of the Canadian Elite Basketball League. 

A native of Montreal, Buckley enjoyed an illustrious collegiate career with the Concordia Stingers from 2005-09. He was a two-time All-Canadian (2007-08, 2008-09), RSEQ Player of the Year (2008-09), four-time RSEQ First Team All-Star, as well as a two-time Concordia Male Athlete of the Year (2007-08 and 2008-09). 

Following his playing career, Buckley turned to coaching. In 2015, he returned to his alma mater to serve as Lead Assistant Coach, spending six seasons on-staff with the Stingers. Provincially, Buckley has served as a coach with Quebec's U14 and U16 provincial teams for several years. 

"For me joining the Gee-Gees was a no-brainer. I'm really excited, all of the guys have made me feel like I'm right at home.," said Buckley.

"One of the reasons why I chose to come to Ottawa was the chance to be a part of a program competing at the national level. The stability the program has had in the Top 10, guys graduating and going on to play big-time pro basketball. There's a lot of pressure in a program like this, but I like that," he said.

"I like trying to help in any way I can to give a boost and be a person of value, there's such a rich culture here and that's what I want to come in and provide." 

Buckley is also the founder of UPHILL Athletics, a basketball skill development company intended to help athletes attain their goals of playing professionally, in the NCAA, and in U SPORTS.

With the Gee-Gees, Buckley will continue to work alongside Gee-Gees head coach James Derouin, who is serving as Interim Head Coach with the BlackJacks this summer.

"We are extremely proud to welcome Damian to our staff," said Derouin. "Getting the chance to work with him with the BlackJacks these past few months, I have seen first-hand the caliber of coach and person he is. Damian is an outstanding addition for our program and we are excited to have him part of the Gee-Gees family."