Rattlers Coaching Staff Rounded Out With NBA G League, NCAA, And U Sports Talent
SASKATOON, SK - The Saskatchewan Rattlers , member club of the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL), today announced their coaching staff for the 2021 CEBL season. Conor Dow, Mario Celebre, Paige Crozon and Jeremy Wielenga will join Chad Jacobson’s staff as the Rattlers enter the 2021 season.
Conor Dow joins the Saskatchewan Rattlers bench for the 2021 season as the lead assistant coach. His experience ranges from coaching, scouting, recruiting, basketball operations, and his work ethic will be an integral part of the Rattlers coaching staff, as we continue to build the roster for the 2021 season. Dow joins the Rattlers after spending the past two years as an assistant coach for the Texas Legends of the NBA G League. The legends are the G League affiliate of the Dallas Mavericks. The Needham Massachusetts native previously worked as a player development intern with the Mavericks before joining the Legends. Before his time with the Mavericks, Dow spent two years as the director of basketball operations at Lafayette College. Dow played college basketball at Clark University, where he got his start in scouting/recruiting as a student-athlete.
After graduating from Clark University, Dow served as director of basketball operations at the MPLEX, before joining the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) as an assistant basketball coach. During his time at MIT, Dow not only assisted in the recruitment of student-athletes, but also helped coordinate the MIT Academy.
Mario Celebre returns to the Rattlers coaching staff after being an assistant coach for the team during the 2020
CEBL Summer Series
. Celebre re-joins the team as an assistant coach as well as the video coordinator. Celebre is currently the men’s assistant coach with Ryerson University. Before joining Ryerson University, Celebre spent the 2019-20 season as head coach of RISE Prep (Brantford, ON). In 2018-19, the Toronto, ON-native was the lead assistant with the Ontario Scholastic Basketball Association (OSBA) Champions TRC Academy. Celebre also spent one year at the University of Toronto as the coordinator of video and analytics (2017-2018).
Paige Crozon is entering her first year as the assistant coach for the Saskatchewan Rattlers. She is also currently the assistant coach for the University of Lethbridge women’s basketball team and the manager of the Living Skies Indigenous Basketball League, Saskatchewan’s first-ever province-wide Indigenous Basketball League.
Crozon recently made the transition from athlete to coach. The Humboldt, SK-native played professionally in Europe in the Premier German League, and with the Canadian National Team for nine years. With Team Canada, she played in three World Championships, the Pan American Games, Commonwealth Games, FISU World Games, and other events. Crozon is still a member of Team Canada 3x3 and is currently ranked number seven in the world for women’s 3x3 players. Most recently, Team Canada 3x3 played in the 2019 Women’s Series where they finished second overall, and won four international tournaments.
Crozon left Saskatchewan to play basketball for the University of Utah on full scholarship, in the NCAA PAC-12 Conference. There, she earned degrees in both Bachelor of Science in Management and Bachelor of Science in Health Education and Promotion. While playing for the University of Utah, Crozon scored over 1000 career points and earned All-Conference and All-Conference Academic honours. Crozon joins the Rattlers as the first-ever female coach of a men’s professional team in provincial history.
Jeremy Wielenga also joins the Rattlers for his first season with the club. Wielenga has been the head coach at Keyano College since 2017. Over the course of his stint with the Keyano College Huskies, Wielenga has led the team to the most wins in program history sporting a 53-19 regular season record. The Brandon, MB.-native took home a bronze medal finish, as well as the ACAC North Coach of the Year in the 2019-20 season. Prior to joining the Huskies, Wielenga spent time as an assistant coach at the University of Winnipeg (2016-17), Lakehead University (2014-15) and Brandon University (2010-14).
The CEBL is preparing for its third season in 2021 starting June 5, following the success of this past year's CEBL Summer Series in St. Catharines, Ont., which saw millions of viewers across Canada and around the world tune in starting July 25 to watch 26 games played over 15 days in a single-site league competition. The CEBL became the first professional sports league in Canada to return to play after the outbreak of the COVID-19 virus in mid-March shut down sports across the country. For more information on the Rattlers, visit therattlers.ca .
Quotes:
“I am thrilled to work with Coach Jacobson, GM Rawlyk and the Rattlers this upcoming season. I am thankful for the opportunity to be a part of a championship organization and contribute to the Saskatchewan community. Words can’t explain how ecstatic I am to get on the court with our players. I look forward to helping our guys develop their individual games, showcase our team’s abilities, and compete in the talented CEBL!”
- Conor Dow, Lead Assistant Coach, Saskatchewan Rattlers Basketball Club
“I’m pleased to have Conor join our coaching staff as our lead assistant coach this upcoming CEBL season. Conor brings a wealth of knowledge and experience from working with many elite coaches in the NCAA, G-League, and NBA. Conor is a highly motivated individual and an extremely passionate coach. Having him on our bench this season is a great addition and I’m thrilled to get the opportunity to work with him this summer.”
- Chad Jacobson, Head Coach, on the appointment of Conor Dow as Lead Assistant Coach
“I’m very excited and grateful to return with the Rattlers this upcoming season. Coach Chad and I had a good working relationship last year and I’m humbled he asked me to join his staff for another season. I’m looking forward to being a part of the Saskatchewan community and getting back on the court with a great group of guys.”
- Mario Celebre, Assistant Coach, Saskatchewan Rattlers Basketball Club
“Having Mario back with our staff as an assistant coach this upcoming season is a great asset. He is a young coach with a tremendous passion for the game, he has a sharp basketball mind and a strong desire to learn and to continually develop his craft. Mario has a tremendous ability to build and develop relationships with players and because of this has earned the respect of the players in our organization. I’m excited to have Mario back.”
- Chad Jacobson, Head Coach, on the appointment of Mario Celebre as Assistant Coach and Video Coordinator
“I’m very excited to be joining the coaching staff of the Saskatchewan Rattlers and continuing to develop as a coach. Having grown up playing basketball in Saskatchewan, I’m very honoured to be a part of the only professional basketball team in the province. I’m looking forward to learning from the other coaches and working with our athletes.”
- Paige Crozon, Assistant Coach, Saskatchewan Rattlers Basketball Club
“I am very excited to have Paige join our coaching staff. Having played both at the NCCA level and representing Canada at the international level, she understands what it takes to compete in this sport at an elite level. She will bring a different perspective to our staff and I’m looking forward to working with her.”
- Chad Jacobson, Head Coach, on the appointment of Paige Crozon as Assistant Coach
“It’s an honour to join a great organization in Saskatchewan. I’m very excited to work and grow with Coach Jacobson and the great staff he has put together. I also can’t wait to get on the floor with the incredible talent GM Rawlyk and the organization have brought in.”
- Jeremy Wielenga, Assistant Coach, Saskatchewan Rattlers Basketball Club
"I'm looking forward to having Jeremy join our coaching staff this summer. He is a tireless worker with a tremendous amount of passion for the game. I'm excited to have him join the Rattlers organization."
- Chad Jacobson, Head Coach, on the appointment of Jeremy Wielenga as Assistant Coach
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About the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL)
A league created by Canadians for Canadians, the CEBL has the highest percentage of Canadian players of any professional league in the country, with 80 percent of its current rosters being Canadians. Players come from the NBA G League, top international leagues, the Canadian National team program, and top NCAA programs as well as U SPORTS. The only First Division Professional League Partner of Canada Basketball, the CEBL season typically runs from May through August. Head to more information on CEBL.ca or follow us on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, Linkedin, Facebook & YouTube (@cebleague).
Media Contact
Raúl García
Director, Operations
Saskatchewan Rattlers
(306)-591-7265