Darren Zary
Saskatoon StarPhoenix
Eric Magdanz is in. Larry Abney is out.
The Canadian Elite Basketball League’s Saskatchewan Rattlers announced Thursday that they are promoting Magdanz to head coach for the upcoming 2025 season after Magdanz spent three years as the club’s lead assistant coach.
“I’m humbled and grateful that the Rattlers have entrusted me as the head coach,” said Magdanz. “Representing our province is an honour, and I look forward to bringing the championship back to Saskatchewan.”
Magdanz takes over from Abney, who had been on loan last season from the NBA G League’s Clippers.
Magdanz — who resides in Saskatoon — joined the Rattlers’ coaching staff ahead of the 2022 season in which he helped lead the Rattlers to a quarter-final berth.
The Rattlers look to return to CEBL Championship Weekend with their main goal being a second championship for the franchise.
In his first two seasons with the Rattlers, Magdanz helped lead the team to a regular season record of 19-21. The Rattlers secured a playoff spot in 2022 in their final regular-season game after beating two-time CEBL champion Edmonton Stingers (94-91) at the SaskTel Centre in Saskatoon. They also held a league-best home record of 8-2 in 2022.
“Eric has spent the last three seasons with the Rattlers as lead assistant, and the feedback about his performance I have received from the players and his colleagues has been glowing.” said Rattlers general manager and vice-president of basketball operations, Barry Rawlyk. “He and his family are well established in the community, and his year-round proximity will help the Rattlers organization to further support the development of basketball in Saskatchewan.”
After a roster turnover midway through the 2024 season, Magdanz instilled trust in key players like Cody John and Jaden Bediako to help lead the franchise through the remainder of the season.
John, Bediako, and Magdanz are set to return as the Rattlers will hold their training camp ahead of the May 15 season-opener at SaskTel Centre.
“We are very excited to have a Saskatchewan product in Eric lead the Rattlers into a new era focusing on a championship mentality and building the basketball community across the province” said Rattlers team president Lee Genier.
Added Rawlyk: “Eric is a high-character individual that will be able to provide elite level leadership to the team and develop a winning culture both on the court and in the community. In light of the times we are in, giving a Canadian an opportunity to lead the Saskatchewan Rattlers is appropriate.”
Magdanz played high school basketball in Lloydminster and U Sports hoops at McMaster University (2005-2009). He served as an assistant coach with the University of Alberta for two seasons (2010-2012), leading the 2012 team to a Canada West championship and a second-place finish in the U Sports final. Magdanz went on to serve as head coach of MacEwan University for seven seasons.
In the 2019 inaugural CEBL season, Magdanz secured an assistant coach title for the Edmonton Stingers. He has worked alongside Basketball Alberta, Basketball Saskatchewan, and Canada’s senior women’s national team in a variety of roles. Provincially in Saskatchewan, he has invested time with the Rattlers, developing youth basketball programs.
CEBL free agency will continue leading up to the announcement of the full training camp roster.
The full 2025 Rattlers schedule has been released, featuring a new 24-game slate. The 2025 CEBL playoffs are scheduled to begin Thursday, Aug. 14 with the conference play-in games, followed by the conference semifinals on Saturday, Aug. 16. The winners will advance to CW25 to join the Winnipeg Sea Bears (host team) and the top-ranked team from the Eastern Conference who are automatically seeded into the conference finals.
dzary@postmedia.com
