There’s a new boss in town

Burrows brings a fresh start to Cougars basketball

Article: Autumn McDowell – Sports Editor

I hope he’s as animated as Hillis. /Arthur Ward

The Cougars men’s basketball team didn’t have to look far for their new head coach.
Steve Burrows, who has been an assistant coach with the men’s team for the past 19 seasons, has been selected as the team’s tenth head coach in school history.
But for the former assistant, the decision to apply for the head coaching position was not as easy as some people may assume.

“It wasn’t an easy decision,” Burrows said. “I was a guidance counselor with the Regina Public School Division and I very much liked what I did and the people I worked with. In the end, it was something that I think I would have regretted if I didn’t try.”

While many assistant coaches aspire to eventually land a head coaching position, Burrows admits that becoming a head coach was not exactly on his radar.

“No, not at all,” he said of his former head coaching aspirations. “As I said earlier, I was very happy in the role that I was in before the change was made.”
Although the decision may have been difficult for Burrows, many members of the Cougars basketball community were thrilled with the outcome, including University of Regina Athletics Director, Dick White, who was one of the member’s of the hiring board, which selected Burrows.
“Steve will bring experience and a renewed commitment to excellence for our men’s basketball program,” White said. “He is widely respected around Regina and the province and has played a huge role in the development of both our men’s and women’s teams over the last several years. I am confident that Steve will show the same passion as a head coach at the CIS level that he’s consistently shown as an assistant coach.”

Before becoming the head coach of the men’s team, Burrows was also an assistant coach of the women’s team for the past six years, is the director of coaching development for Basketball Saskatchewan, and has helped out with numerous high school basketball team’s in the city.
However, with a bigger role this year, Burrows has had to ultimately sacrifice many of his other coaching positions.

“I will be focusing most of my time and energy with the men’s team,” he said. “I will continue to work with Basketball Saskatchewan as it is a good way for me to get to know potential future players. I won’t be coaching with the women’s team anymore but I certainly wish them all the best and I will be watching closely.”

And even though Burrows will have his work cut out for him to bring a team whose record last season was a relatively dismal 7-15 back to their playoff potential, the rookie head coach is up for the challenge.

            “It is a fresh start for Cougar basketball,” he said. “Our roster is in a definite state of flux right now. The players that will be here will be hard working, dedicated student-athletes who will be good role models on and off the basketball court. We have a long term vision of where this can go and we are just getting started.”