Cochrane High School basketball coach Randy Peron is living proof of his mantra that hard work is a defining factor of success after being named to Team Alberta’s sideline staff for the fifth time.
“I’ve always respected the work ethic that Randy brings,” said Shayne Midford, Team Alberta 15U boys team head coach, who brought Peron on board last week as assistant coach for the upcoming season. “Randy is a team guy … (His players) play for each other and they play for a main goal – that’s what basketball’s all about.
“I think that’s going to go a long way as we prepare ourselves for nationals.”
Peron is currently head coach of the Cochrane High School Cobras senior varsity girls team and has also led the Red Jacket Premier Girls basketball club in Calgary for the last decade.
He’s no stranger to provincial and national level b-ball, either – he’s been to the Alberta Summer Games three times as head coach and once before as assistant coach for Team Alberta’s 15U team.
“Basketball is my life,” said Peron last week, moments before taking to the court in the Cobradome for a teachers versus students friendly lunchtime game.
It’s that positive attitude and varied set of skills that Midford said made Peron the perfect choice to fill out the Team Alberta 2017 squad.
“Randy has a vast amount of experience coaching … He’s worked with different age groups as well as genders,” said Midford. “I’m hoping to rely on some of that experience, as well as his knowledge of the game, to hopefully help out with the defensive side for us.”
Peron said in addition to his technical skills, he will work on team building with the boys, many of whom will meet for the first time at the end of June.
The team of teens from around the province will practise for a month in Edmonton and Calgary, before head to Regina for the Canada Basketball 15U & 17U National championships in late July.
“Getting to know your teammates outside of the court … that’s how you develop friendships,” said Peron, adding he also hopes to instil his five fundamentals of “commitment, trust, pride, care and collective responsibility” into the kids’ game.
“Then we are a very strong unit of one, even though there’s five.”
Peron grew up in Winnipeg and first caught the bug for basketball during his years at John Taylor Collegiate, where his own coach, Nick Laping – a well-known and well-loved leader in the community – nurtured his love for the game.
“I learned from a very good coach,” said Peron, adding Laping had such an influence on his life that he continues to keep in touch with his wife Bev, long after the coach died in 2009.
“She sent me a message (saying), ‘Nick would be very proud of you,’” said Peron of the recent Team Alberta news, as he choked back tears of pride. “He is always with me every time I am on the court teaching the game.
“That’s the attachment coaches and teachers can have on kids.”
