Gee-Gees' Derouin will return to coach Ottawa BlackJacks in 2023

Coach James Derouin Photo by Wayne Cuddington /mail media

James Derouin will continue his double dribbling practice.

The Ottawa BlackJacks of the Canadian Elite Basketball League confirmed Tuesday that Derouin, who also serves as the University of Ottawa Gee-Gees head coach, will return to officiate the on-court show for the BlackJacks.

“I’m grateful for the opportunity to come back with the BlackJacks for another season and continue to build on what we accomplished last summer,” Derouin said in a statement from the team. “Having grown up in Ottawa, I know firsthand how important basketball is in the community, and I’m excited to be part of a professional organization that contributes to its growth.”

After a 3-0 start to the 2022 season, Derouin stepped in as interim head coach, replacing Charles Dube-Brais. The BlackJacks finished the season 8-12. As the host team for August’s CEBL Final Four tournament, the BlackJacks earned a spot in the league’s semifinals, where they lost an exciting 76-72 game to the Hamilton Honey Badgers, who went on to win the championship.

BlackJacks GM Jevohn Shepherd says reinstating Derouin was an easy decision.

“After speaking to many of our players, it was a no-brainer,” he said in a statement. “The connection and reception he had in the dressing room spoke volumes. We’ve always talked about having a space and making an impact in the Ottawa community, and James embodies it all, from his position at the University of Ottawa to the respect he enjoys here in the Ottawa basketball community.”

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