Charles Kissi will lead the Guelph Nighthawks for a fourth season.
Team officials announced Tuesday he’s returning as head coach and general manager of the Canadian Elite Basketball League squad.
“Charles is one of the best and brightest Canadian coaches in professional basketball. His leadership has led to back-to-back playoff appearances for the Nighthawks, while also guiding the development of our players to new opportunities overseas, in the NBA G-League and the NBA,” said Nighthawks president Cameron Kusch in a news release.
“Now is the time for our club to take the next step in our evolution. We are excited to see Charles return, continue to build on the foundation he created here in Guelph, and guide the Nighthawks to Championship Weekend in 2022.”
Kissi is currently coaching with the Fort Wayne Mad Ants of the NBA G-League, the affiliate team of the Indiana Pacers. At the end of the G-League season Kissi will rejoin the Nighthawk as it prepares for a return to action following the off-season.
“I cannot express how excited I am to be returning to Guelph for the 2022 season,” said Kissi in the release. “To be able to compete once again in a traditional 20-game regular season, in front of our fans, will be energizing for the community, our organization and the league.”
Prior to joining the Pacers organization Kissi spent two years with the Toronto Raptors as lead assistant for their G-League affiliate Raptors 905.
The Nighthawks finished fifth in the seven-team league last season, with a 5-9 record. Three wins in its final four games of the season put Guelph into the playoffs, where it fell to the Fraser Valley Bandits 104-84 in the quarter-finals.
The league has since expanded to include 10 teams across six provinces.
“I want to thank our president, Cameron Kusch, for the trust, honesty, and respect that defines our relationship and for the opportunity to be back leading basketball operations for the Nighthawks,” Kissi added in the release. “We have been building something special within this organization that is foundational to achieving the ultimate peak of bringing a championship to Guelph. Nighthawks fans, its time. See you in May!”
For more information about the Nighthawks, including a 2022 game schedule when it’s released, visit www.thenighthawks.ca.
