Broncos tab Kapinga as new men's basketball head coach

OLDS, Alta. - David Kapinga understands the value of hard work — it's been part of his identity since he started playing basketball, and it's a trait he plans to bring to the sideline as the new head coach of the Olds College Broncos men's basketball team.

"I've always dreamed of being able to create my own program in the way I see fit with good culture, good talent, good people, and guys that want to learn and work hard," Kapinga said.

Kapinga comes to the Broncos fresh off coaching the Alberta 15U boys' team to a bronze medal at the 2024 Basketball Canada National Championship in Toronto. His player development credentials also include extensive training experience, as well as being an assistant at Edge School, where he worked with former Broncos men's basketball head coach Mike Stevens.

Kapinga credits Stevens for helping him through the process of coming to Olds College of Agriculture & Technology.

"He talked to me a lot about being able to develop something special there based on where the school is and the type of people that are attracted to the school, so that was huge," Kapinga said. "My conversation with him on how he went from there to Edge and the opportunities he had in between where he said no, that meant a lot to me because when a head coach says no to other opportunities, that means there's something special."

Trina Radcliffe, Senior Manager of Athletics and Wellness at Olds College, is thrilled to have Kapinga leading the program.

"We are extremely excited to have David join our Broncos staff," Radcliffe said. "Everything about David's journey from his playing career at the U SPORTS level, his coaching experience at all levels of the game and his commitment to the growth and success of the men's basketball program at Olds College will undoubtedly bring a positive impact to our team.David's dedication to fostering talent and building a strong, cohesive unit aligns perfectly with our vision for the future. We are confident that under his leadership, our program will reach new heights and continue to develop student-athletes both on and off the court."

Kapinga emigrated to Canada from the Democratic Republic of the Congo as a child, then pursued a post-secondary playing career that began at Union College in Kentucky before returning to Canada to play four seasons with the University of Calgary Dinos, highlighted by winning the 2018 U SPORTS Men's Basketball Championship and the Jack Donohue Trophy as the most valuable player in the Final 8. He also represented Canada internationally at the 2017 Summer Universiade in Taiwan, as well as playing in the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Australia.

Kapinga returned to the Dinos for the past two seasons as an assistant coach after beginning his post-secondary coaching career as an assistant at Cape Breton University. Throughout his career, Kapinga has realized the value of building healthy relationships with his players.

"The player needs to know the Xs and Os, the player needs to be able to execute," Kapinga said. "For me, being a coach is being a teacher, being an educator, and being able to relate to the players in front of me and helping them manage their schoolwork, whatever's happening with their family, they're new on campus, and being able to manage and understand the person in front of me is a human with not just basketball in their mind."

As he builds the Broncos up for the fall, Kapinga points to attitude, communication and embracing a team mentality as key pillars for team building.

"It's we over I," Kapinga said. "Understanding that we're all here for a common goal, and bringing in everyone with their individual skill, individual personality, backgrounds, and how we make that puzzle work. That's our job as a coaching staff to be able to bring the last part together. The communication and the attitude, it's up to the players to bring it, but up to the coach to make sure they understand that's very important, so keeping people accountable to those two things when they get on the court."

The Broncos open the 2024-25 regular season at the Ralph Klein Centre against the St. Mary's University Lightning on Thursday, Oct. 24.

For more information on the Olds College Broncos, please visit www.gobroncos.ca, and follow the Broncos across social media @OldsBroncos.

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