August 27th, 2024Basketball BC Names Kyle Julius Head Coach of U18 Boys Academy

Manager of Boy’s High Performance Matt McKay is pleased to announce that Kyle Julius has been named Head Coach of the U18 Boys Academy program for 2024-2025.

McKay noted “bringing in a Head Coach for the program of Kyle’s background as not just a coach, but a former player in Canada’s High Performance Pathway, is going to be incredibly beneficial for our province’s elite players. Working with Coach Julius in the Academy environment will provide the closest experience our BC players can receive to prepare themselves to play and compete in the national team environment when given the opportunity.”

Kyle Julius is a highly successful international professional coach. Coach Julius has been coaching professionally since 2013 and has taken 3 different teams to the finals of 3 different leagues in 3 different countries. He has brought his teams to the finals 5 times including 2 Championships and multiple Coach of the Year Awards over the course of his 11-year professional coaching tenure.

Focusing on building a powerful and contagious team culture, he has a unique ability to build successful tactics and schemes by blending togetherness, toughness and skill development. Coach Julius has instilled his style of Grit + Grint E3 in different situations and circumstances across the globe; qualifying for the postseason in every season and every league he has coached.

Skill development and relationships are the keys to his success and the foundation of his coaching philosophy. Prior to coaching professionally, Coach Julius has helped over 75 Canadian high school players earn NCAA Scholarships, many pros improve their games and elevate their career resumés through his training programs.

In 2 seasons with the London Lighting, he amassed an overall record of 86-21; including back-to-back finals berths and a championship title and Coach of the Year honours in 2017. Coach Julius’ success extends internationally as well; leading Canada to a gold medal at the renowned 2017 William Jones Cup in Taiwan. After winning the Jones Cup, Julius joined the Saigon Heat in the ABL where he helped Saigon achieve its best-ever regular season finish following its first-ever winning record and playoff victory.

He returned to Taiwan in 2019 and joined the Formosa Dreamers, making an immediate impact by leading Formosa’s rise to third place before the COVID-19 pandemic halted the 2019-20 season. He led the Dreamers to the finals and semifinals in 2021 and 2022, respectively, in his second and third seasons with the prominent Taiwanese club.

Julius led the Vancouver Bandits of the CEBL to their most successful season in franchise history in 2024. The Bandits won the Western Conference Championship and finished Runners-Up in the Championship Game. The Bandits finished the season ranked first in offensive and defensive rating. Coach Julius was named CEBL Coach of The Year for the club’s performance.

Coach Julius has been hired all over the world because he focuses on bringing groups together and helping teams buy into a common goal. He builds a mindset and confidence in his players that allows them to feel empowered, succeed and consistently play at their best.

The Boys Basketball BC Academy Program is comprised of the Boys Junior Academy Program (JRA) and Boys Senior Academy Program (SRA). The Academy Programs are part of Canada Basketball's Targeted Athlete Strategy program (TAS). These weekends, while more intensive, will allow for better synergy with athletes participation in community training and competition, while also decreasing travel demands on players from outside the lower mainland. The program will focus on high level skill and concept development while also introducing Canada Basketball's national team program concepts and style of play. Additionally, players will be engaged in off court development through guest speakers/coaches and on-line team activities.

Athletes are required to try out for the Boys Academy Program, but some athletes may receive a direct invitation to the program based on prior identification or evaluation through provincial and national team participation.

Boys Basketball BC Academy Program