The last game for long-time head coach Ajay Sharma was a loss to the Lambton Lions in the quarterfinals of the Ontario Colleges Athletic Association (OCAA) playoffs.
Although the result wasn’t what they were hoping for, the lasting impact he would have on women’s basketball will remain forever.
Head of the Athletic Communications Department for Humber Brian Lepp said coach Sharma made Humber College known nationally and changed the trajectory of the program.
“They were still a contender every year for a provincial championship, but they weren’t known nationally like they are now,” Lepp said.
“This is what Ajay changed, that success they had gave him that national recognition,” he said.
Sharma has won many championships, both provincially and nationally.
He is the only OCAA women’s basketball coach to ever win a Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) title, and he did it twice. In 2016 and 2018.
He also has won six OCAA titles, including four in a row between 2015 and 2018.
Although he is known for winning all those titles, it’s who he is as a person that makes him a legend.
First-year guard Hope Manglal-Ian said he helped players become the athlete and person they want to be.
“He gave us a lot of room to become the person and the player we are meant to be,” Manglal-Ian said. “There’s a lot of room for you to grow your own personality as an athlete and as a person.”
Manglal-Ian said as a rookie, Sharma put a lot of confidence in her ability, which made her blossom into a better player.
“He definitely gave me a lot of confidence and I feel like that’s one of the most important things of being an athlete,” she said.
“I’m really grateful he gave me an opportunity to just be who I am,” Manglal-Ian said.
As coach Sharma retires, a new era of women’s basketball is starting.
The Hawks hope to bounce back even stronger next season and continue the success of the program.
Lepp said Humber’s expectations are always to compete for provincial and national titles, regardless of who is coaching.
“It is Humber, and our expectations are also to compete for provincial and national titles,” Lepp said.
“That’s our standard across the board in every sport, obviously no one expects it every year, but being in contention is what we want and that’s our goal,” he said.
Lepp said winning titles is not the only thing they expect from Humber teams.
“We need to have a good culture and we need to see adjustments if things are going bad,” Lepp said.
Entering next season with a new head coach is challenging for any team to deal with.
Manglal-Ian said the Humber culture will not change. She doesn’t anticipate any difficulties starting next season.
“A lot of the values and morals that Humber instills in not only the play-styles but in what we stand for as a team has been passed down not only to every single athlete but to every single coach and assistant coach,” she said.
“What stays really consistent is our program, so I don’t feel like it will be anything that will be more difficult,” Manglal-Ian said.