MONTREAL -- David DeAveiro, who coached the McGill University men's basketball team to five conference championships in 10 years, has been appointed head coach of the Ottawa BlackJacks in the Canadian Elite Basketball League.

The 61-year-old native of Toronto was elevated from his role as an assistant with the team since 2020 in the CEBL, which operates in the summer.  He is the second McGill coaching product with the pro summer league. Ryan Thorne, his successor at McGill, also serves as an assistant coach in the CEBL with the Montreal Alliance. The CEBL season tips off on May 11, 2025, two months after the conclusion of the U SPORTS campaign.

During the school year, DeAveiro is the current bench boss of Toronto Metropolitan University, where he has coached the Rams to a 68-44 overall record since leaving McGill in 2020. He previously spent nine years coaching for the University of Ottawa Gee-Gees before his decade long stint at McGill. DeAveiro has guided his three university teams to a combined 477-308 overall record and eight appearances at the U SPORTS Final 8 national championship tournament (five with McGill and three with Ottawa).

DeAveiro is the all-time win leader in McGill basketball coaching history and posted a 199-137 record in 336 games overall (.592) at the University, including a stellar 116-44 record (.725) in regular season play. He guided McGill to seven first-place finishes and five appearances at the U SPORTS Final Eight national championship.
 
"Ottawa holds a special place in my life and is where I've made my home, raised my kids and fostered my love of basketball," DeAveiro said in a statement issued by the BlackJacks. "The Capital Region has a rich history of basketball excellence and I am proud to lead the lone professional franchise in the Nation's Capital.
 
"I am excited about the future of the Ottawa Blackjacks franchise and am honoured to lead this team going forward as we strive toward our ultimate goal of winning a CEBL championship."
 
DeAveiro has coached for a number of years with Canada Basketball, including the men's senior, development and junior teams. In 2018, he was an assistant on the Canadian squad that won silver at the Commonwealth Games in Australia.
 
A graduate of both the University of Ottawa (BSoc '89) and Brock University (BEd '92), DeAveiro spent 19 years with the Gee-Gees, including five seasons as a point-guard (1984 to 1989), five as an assistant coach (1990 to 1995) and nine as head coach (2001 to 2010).  He was the team's all-time leader in coaching wins, posting an impressive 210-127 record overall and led the squad to three appearances at the Final Eight tourney. Prior to that, DeAveiro had served as an assistant coach at Humber College, where the Hawks captured a CCAA national title in 2001.
 
SOURCE
Earl Zukerman
Sports Information Officer
Athletics & Recreation
McGill University
CELL: 514-983-7012
E-MAIL:earl.zukerman@mcgill.ca