New Queens basketball coach brings optimism for more competitive squad

Botham says she is appreciative of the opportunity that RDC Athletics has given her and is excited to start a new chapter with Queens Basketball which saw its team go 3-18 last season.

“RDC has built a strong reputation of success both in the classroom and in competition, and we will continue to grow our program and our culture from this foundation,” says Botham. “We have some great student-athletes, recruits, and coaches eager to get to work.”

The last time the RDC Queens basketball program had championship success was in 1991-92 when it won national bronze and provincial gold.

Botham, who is nearly finished the Train to Compete stages of the National Coaching Certification Program (NCCP), brings a gamut of valuable ACAC coaching and playing experience to RDC, which should hopefully move the program closer to being championship calibre.

“My future plans for our program are to contribute to RDC’s strong reputation of success by focusing on the details that matter most, both on and off the court,” she declares. “I am a firm believer in creating a strong team culture, sense of pride, and accountability in competition and in the classroom.”

Prior to her time guiding the Wolves, Botham was the head coach of the Kwantlen Polytechnic University Eagles and an assistant coach with the University of Northern British Columbia Timberwolves, in her hometown of Prince George.

Botham was also the assistant coach of Team BC’s U15 Girls in 2014 and head coach in 2015, and she coached at the Canada Basketball Centre for Performance in Vancouver.

Botham will join a strong and knowledgeable group of RDC coaches, who have achieved success at the ACAC and Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) levels.

In fact, Botham’s time coaching in Grande Prairie was a homecoming of sorts. She was a student-athlete on the most prolific Women’s Wolves Basketball team in GPRC history.

During the 1994-95 season, the Wolves had a perfect ACAC regular season record and captured the ACAC Championship.

Then at the CCAA Women’s Basketball National Championship, the Wolves earned a bronze medal in Nova Scotia.

Botham admits winning will be a key goal for the Queens next season.

“Ask any coach of any athletics program, the goal is always to win,” she says. “Success hinges on multiple factors, and we are privileged at RDC to have great supports in place for athletes to be as successful as possible. We are fortunate to call a world-class training and competition facility, the Gary W. Harris Canada Games Centre, our home.”

Botham says she likes to base her team’s style of play on their strengths.

“That keeps things fresh for my athletes and pushes me to continue learning and adapting,” she explains. “I like to emphasize a united, team effort defensively. Historically, my teams are always gritty and will play hard regardless of the score or time left on the clock.”

Diane St-Denis, RDC Athletic Director, says the long term goal for Queens Basketball is to be competitive annually.

“Competitive is defined as qualifying for the ACAC Championship and vying for a medal,” says St-Denis. “This won’t be an overnight transition but I do believe that we have talent within our current program to build the foundation for a program that could have a .500 season next season. That’s a number that will have you in ACAC playoffs annually.”

St-Denis says with a few new recruits and a renewed commitment to playing a full 40 minutes, along with drive and passion, the RDC Queens basketball program should be top of mind in the next few months as they prepare for the new season.

Botham will step into her duties as Queens Head Coach on May 16.

by Sheldon Spackman and Josh Hall

New Queens basketball coach brings optimism for more competitive squad

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