Doug Plumb Named 2023 Coach of the Year

Tuesday, May 9th (LONDON, ON) – The London Lightning and National Basketball League of Canada are pleased to announce that Head Coach Doug Plumb has been named the 2023 NBL Canada Coach of the Year.

 

While his team has yet to make their second straight finals appearance, Plumb has won his second consecutive Coach of the Year award. He is the first coach since Joe Salerno in 2018-19 and 2019-20 and just the third coach all-time to win back-to-back or multiple coach of the year awards. Plumb also becomes the first Canadian Head Coach in league history to win the award more than once.

 

In his third season at the helm in London, the Lightning have amassed a 59-18 record, good for tops in the NBLC over that time span. With an overall regular season coaching record of 77-38, he sits second all-time in league win percentage at 66.96%. During the 2022 season, Coach Plumb and the Lightning set a league record by going 12-0 at home, the first time in NBL Canada history that a team has gone undefeated at home.

 

After starting as an assistant coach with the Lightning under former Coach of the Year Kyle Julius during the Lightning’s 2016-17 championship season, Plumb rejoined the Bolts has head coach for the 2019-20 season after one season with the St. John’s Edge. The 2023 season marks the first time a Lightning head coach was brought back for the third season since the franchise’s original head coach, Michael Ray Richardson.

 

"What an impressive season for Doug," said Audley Stephenson, NBL Canada Commissioner. "Here's a guy who always gets the most out of his players. After a championship season in 2022, he comes back and repeats as the best team in the league with almost an entirely new roster. That's quite a testament to his abilities as a coach."

 

Coach Plumb and the Lightning are looking to run it back as NBL Canada Champions as they currently, lead the KW Titans 1-0 in the opening round of the 2023 playoffs.

 

Make sure to stay up to date with team news by following the team on social media or through the team website at www.lightningbasketball.ca.