Humber basketball teams preparing their seasons with expectations of winning

Oct 15, 2021 | News

Ajay Sharma and Omar Miles, head coaches of Humber’s women’s and men’s basketball teams respectively, understand how high the bar is set.

“Playing and coaching basketball at Humber should be tough, but it’s what we do,” Miles said. “Winning is tough, but it’s what we do. Nothing is easy.”

The two coaches have been leading their respective squads through exhibition games to prepare for the new season. Sharma is entering his tenth year as women’s head coach and the men’s team is starting fresh in Miles’ first year as head coach.

“The transition is quite easy from being an assistant to associate coach to now being the head coach,“ Miles said. “You move a couple seats over and your responsibilities become slightly greater, but the relationships are still always the same.”

Omar Mills during timeout vs Fanshawe in 2019.

Omar Miles during timeout versus Fanshawe in 2019. The rookie coach is aiming to take the men’s varsity team to golden heights this year. PHOTO CREDIT/ COURTESY OF HUMBER ATHLETICS

Miles started his coaching career at the high-school level, where he led the men’s and women’s teams at St. Edmund Campion Secondary School to championships before attracting the attention of former Hawks coach Shawn Collins, who brought him on board as an assistant.

During his time as an assistant and associate coach for Humber, Miles has seen the Hawks win four OCAA medals and a record of 76-23 in just four seasons.

“It has been a great learning experience,” he said. “As an educator, I always like to think that I’m a lifelong learner. I’m constantly learning from the players, the support staff, and the coaches we have around.”

Sharma has built a legacy over nine seasons as head coach at Humber, with his team setting the gold standard for the OCAA.

He has amassed a 181-28 record along with winning two national championships and four provincial titles. Sharma’s Hawks won four straight provincial gold medals from 2015 to 2018. They look to regain that status this season.

“We’ll be talented enough and I’m optimistic,” Sharma said. “I think when we get everyone in the same place at the same time and get into the flow of things, I like our chances to be as good as anyone in the province.”

Miles’ team will look to take a page from their female counterparts as they haven’t won an OCAA gold medal since 2016. The Hawks have had trouble in the finals, losing three straight championships over the past three seasons.

It’s a challenge Miles believes his coaching staff can take on.

“I was given the chance to pick my coaching staff and I went with an experienced coaching staff,” he said. “We’ve had great coaching staffs in the past but never this experienced.”