Todd Jordan has a new job.
No, he hasn't stepped down as head coach of the UNBC Northern Timberwolves. Instead, he has added to his list of responsibilities because he has been named sideline boss of Basketball B.C.'s Under-16 boys provincial team.
Jordan is a first-time Team B.C. head coach and is excited about the spring and summer he has ahead of him.
"There hasn't been anyone from the north that's done it in quite a while," he said. "The guy who did it last year decided to do some other things this year so the position opened up. Just in discussion with Basketball B.C. they asked me if I'd be interested in doing it. You're talking about [working with] probably 10 of the top players in the entire province at that age group. It's a pretty special opportunity and I feel pretty good about the chance to do it."
A Basketball B.C. super camp is being held in the Lower Mainland this weekend but Jordan isn't attending because he's running a UNBC identification camp. But, next weekend, he'll be in Langley for the next phase of tryouts, when 24 players will shoot for roster spots.
Prince George's Montell Lindgren -- who was on last year's U-15 provincial team -- is one of the players trying out.
Players who survive the final cuts will compete in tournaments in Seattle and Las Vegas this summer.
From the UNBC perspective, there is a side benefit to Jordan's involvement in the provincial program.
"Me being the UNBC coach, it's good representation for our program and it does spread a little bit of publicity about our program," he said.
"The other thing for me, being a guy who grew up in Prince George and played most of my basketball in Prince George, it's nice for me to get down [south] and develop some more network connections with the high school coaches and provincial team coaches. I'm starting to get more involved in that circle but it will be a really good opportunity for me to get even more engaged."
