With the start of a new semester the Ambrose Lions basketball season is also about to commence.

The Ambrose Lions women's basketball team enters the 2009-10 season with hopes of improving on last year's sixth place finish. The team has seen its share of struggles over the last two years but believes that this year things will be different. The Lions are set for an exciting new season under the leadership of head coach Byron Sayer along with assistant coach Lisa Proudfoot. Anchored by the return of key contributors like second year post Cherilyn Wheeler and with new recruits joining the ranks, the team expects to make a jump up in the standings.  This team will be young and highly motivated to prove to the rest of the league that Lions women's basketball is back and better than ever.  

Byron Sayer enters this season as a first year head coach for the Lions with a history that will serve him and the team well. Byron has ten years of high school basketball experience which includes working as an assistant coach with Basketball Canada Centre for Performance as well as involvement with the Basketball Alberta Regional Training Centre and Summer Games Zone Team. In addition to his experience, Byron brings energy and passion to a young Lions squad.

On the men's side the Lions had a successful season in 2008-09 which they are looking to build upon.  Head Coach, Chris Wig, brought together a very young team and guided them to the bronze medal last year. The team returns a number of key players including captain and Ambrose Lions Male Athlete of the Year, Jeff Spiers, along with veterans Matt Wood and Mike Ellergodt. The Lions are excited about the addition of David Olson and Jeff Jardine along with a host of other first year players. The team will be led by head coach Chris Wig and assistant coaches Kevin Erickson and Derek Selinger. Lions fans anticipate an exciting season as this team once again competes for a top spot in the league and the possibility of bringing home its first ACAL championship.

Chris Wig is a graduate of Alliance University College-a forerunner to Ambrose University College.  In addition to being a former student he is also a former member of both the men's volleyball and basketball teams.  He was named the 2005 Male Athlete of the Year for his athletic achievements, so the Ambrose community knows his superior skill set will transfer nicely into coaching. Chris is currently a police officer with the Calgary Police Department and resides in Calgary.

The men's basketball team kicks off their season January 14 night at 7:00pm in the Lions' Den against Olds College.  The following day, both our men's and women's basketball teams head to Pambrun, Saskatchewan to play 2 games against the Millar College Edge.