Stingers Announce General Manager & Head Coach for 2023 CEBL Season
The Edmonton Stingers of the Canadian Elite basketball League (CEBL) announced Friday the signing of Steve Sir as the team’s General Manager and Jordan Baker as their Head Coach. Both Sir and Baker bring significant pro-level playing experience with them and are integral members of the local basketball community in Edmonton.
Steve Sir has two decades worth of international professional basketball experience across several countries. He played at the college level for Northern Arizona University and continues to hold the all-time three-point percentage record. Following university, Sir played professionally in Switzerland, Germany, Mexico, Canada, Romania and most recently Mongolia. In addition to his time on the court, Steve has worked extensively in player development with professional players overseas. He is returning to his hometown of Edmonton to lead the basketball operations department for the Stingers, where he will be the chief architect of the roster for the upcoming CEBL season.
Jordan Baker has been one of the Stingers’ best players over the past four seasons. He is a two-time CEBL champion, a four-time All-CEBL player, and has been honoured with the CEBL Canadian Player of the Year award in 2020. Jordan knows the team, the league, the players, and the commitment-level required to succeed at this level. Baker was previously the Lead Assistant Coach for the University of Alberta Golden Bears and is the current Head Coach of the NAIT Ooks.
The Stingers have worked hard to be a community-based team—acting always with integrity and respect and making a positive impact in the local sports community to lead and inspire future generations of players. The addition of Steve Sir and Jordan Baker to the front office group are in keeping with the team’s community-minded and community-oriented organizational values. A strong shared vision for the Club between the President, General Manager and Head Coach will be paramount in building upon the good work that has been done in this area.
Quotes:
“I'm excited to be back with the Stingers for this next phase as we look to build on what's been accomplished and continue to pursue a strong team culture on the court and presence within the community. The opportunity to work alongside Reed and Jordan made this an easy decision. The three of us grew up in Edmonton loving basketball and have a unique opportunity to impact the sport in an exciting way in our hometown. I can't wait to get started!”
- Steve Sir, Edmonton Stingers General Manager
“Taking over as Head Coach of the Edmonton Stingers represents an exciting opportunity to not only work with professional athletes, but to build the game of basketball in Edmonton. I look forward to rejoining an organization that places such high priority on supporting the development of basketball at every level within the community.”
- Jordan Baker, Edmonton Stingers Head Coach
“As a group, the three of us will chart a course for the success of the Edmonton Stingers on the court and in the community. We want to win a lot of games, fill a lot of seats, and put a lot of smiles on the faces of the basketball-mad kids in this community. It is humbling and gratifying to have Steve and Jordan join our Club at this level, and I can’t wait to see what we can achieve together.”
- Reed Clarke, Edmonton Stingers President
About the Edmonton Stingers
The Edmonton Stingers play a 20-game season from May to August in the Canadian Elite Basketball League, the top professional league in Canada with 10 teams in major markets from coast to coast. The Stingers joined the league in its inaugural season in 2019 and have twice been crowned CEBL Champions. The Stingers play in the approximately 3,000 seat Flair Airlines Hangar at the Edmonton Expo Centre. Our core value as an organization is a relentless focus on the community where we live. We put an elite product on the floor, with ticket prices that are accessible to regular families in Edmonton. Through our Fresh Nets program, we continually replace the netting on playground rims around town so the kids can feel that swish.
About The Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL)
The CEBL features 10 teams in six provinces, making it the largest pro sports league in Canada. The CEBL has the highest percentage of Canadian players of any pro league in the country with 71 percent of its 2022 rosters being Canadian. Players bring experience from the NBA, 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 runs May through August. More information about the CEBL is available at CEBL.ca and @cebleague on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, LinkedIn, Facebook and YouTube. Head to CEBL.ca for more information or follow the league (@cebleague) on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, LinkedIn, Facebook and YouTube.