Athletics facilities coordinator Mike Hurley (second left) receives a Sport Niagara Champion of Sport award at the Niagara Awards Breakfast.
Niagara Knights Hall of Fame member (’03) Mike Hurley was named the co-winner of the Sport Niagara Champion of Sport award on June 9 at the Sport Niagara Awards Breakfast.
Hurley, who also serves as facilities coordinator in the College’s Department of Athletics and Recreation, is one of the Niagara region’s foremost basketball volunteers.
During 2015, Hurley dedicated more than 1,200 hours to youth basketball programming across Niagara through the Pelham Panthers basketball club and No Limit Performance training. He dedicates himself to developing the sport across the Niagara region to the tune over three hours a day, seven days a week. He even spends his vacation instructing at the prestigious Olympia Sports camp.
With the Pelham Panthers, Hurley wears many hats, serving as a vice-president, select convener, house league coordinator, equipment manager and scheduler. He also serves as the head coach of the U13 boys team that finished the season in Division 2 ranked 12th place in Ontario out of 100 teams, as well as the head coach of the reigning Division 1 OBA Champions U10 girls’ team (defeating teams almost exclusively from the GTA). In 2015, for the Panthers organization alone, he directed a series of free skill development clinics for girls (age 7-11), the Panthers winter and summer camps, the boys and girls summer leagues (age 8-11), and the Panthers summer training program; he organized the Pelham Canada Day Parade; ran the annual outdoor street ball marathon event; and planned a series of outdoor 3v3 tournaments.
In addition to his multiple roles with the Pelham Panthers, Hurley serves as a trainer and consultant with No Limit Performance basketball where he provides high level 1-on-1, small group, and large group training sessions. His reach extends to more than 750 kids across the Niagara region with No Limit Performance and the Pelham Panthers. Hurley also provided coaching and training sessions to more than 25 teams in 2015, and he serves as a registered clinician for the Ontario Basketball Association.
Over the last five years, Hurley has helped more than 45 players attain scholarships to continue their playing careers in post-secondary institutions.
A decorated and accomplished postsecondary basketball star, Hurley has seamlessly transitioned into the coaching and sport administration world, dedicating himself to grassroots basketball and growing the game across the region.
Other finalists for Sport Niagara awards included Lorelle Weavers (Female Athlete of the Year); Evan Littlefield (Male Athlete of the Year); Cameron Thin (Coach of the Year); and the Niagara Knights golf team (Team of the Year).
