Coach Small Set To Return Next Two Seasons

The Edmonton Stingers of the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) announced on January 6th that the organization has signed Head Coach and General Manager Jermaine Small to a two-year contract. 

Jermaine Small was named head coach and general manager of the Edmonton Stingers in 2019 after taking over from Barnaby Craddock, just eight games into the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL)’s inaugural season. Since then, Edmonton holds a league-best 32-4 record and became the first-ever CEBL franchise to become back-to-back CEBL champions, securing the title in 2020 and 2021 under his leadership.

“As I reflect on the last three seasons there is no doubt Alberta is home now and I’m extremely proud to be a Stinger,” said Small. ‘I deeply want to thank the Edmonton Community, the Stingers family, the University of Lethbridge family and the league for their commitment and embracing me throughout this journey. Now with ten teams in the league being the hunted, I look forward to the challenge of continuing our championship level of success for the next two seasons.”

During his time Small has also won the CEBL Coach of The Year honours twice in 2020 and 2021.

Small has made a significant impact on basketball in Canada at several levels from grassroots to professional.

After finishing up his playing career at Houghton College, in upstate New York, the Toronto product returned to his roots at Eastern Commerce Institute and became a volunteer coach for two years under his high school coach, Roy Rana, currently an assistant coach with the NBA’s Sacramento Kings.

Small joined Rana’s coaching staff at Ryerson University in 2012, and spent three seasons with the Rams, coaching Stingers players, like, Adika Peter-McNeilly and Jahmal Jones.

He then became the lead assistant under Steph Barrie at Queens University in 2015, a position he held for four seasons. He also spent three summers as a head coach in the Crown League in Toronto, prior to making the jump to the CEBL and Edmonton.

"Myself and the entire Edmonton Stingers organization are extremely proud to officially announce the resigning of the CEBL Coach of the year, Jermaine Small. Jermaine is a proven leader on and off the court in the Alberta basketball community. His passion for the game is contagious and we are beyond excited to continue to have him as part of the Stingers family,” said Edmonton Stingers President Reed Clarke.

Small is currently also the head coach of the Lethbridge Pronghorns Men’s Basketball program, his first head coaching stint in Canada West and U SPORTS competition.