Less than a decade after playing for the Niagara College Knights, Keveshan Padachey has been named head coach of the Knights Women’s Basketball team.
Padachey brings a strong playing and coaching background, beginning at Bill Crothers Prep in Unionville, Ontario and continuing at Niagara College, where he earned OCAA All-Rookie Team honours, a bronze medal in 2018–19, and a CCAA National Scholar Award. He has since gained coaching experience at both the collegiate and high school levels.
The former guard on the court, who worked as an assistant coach with the Niagara College Women’s team last season and previously with the Brock Badgers Women’s program, is a secondary school teacher with the DSBN at Stamford Collegiate in Niagara Falls, a Clinical Exercise Physiologist, high performance specialist, and the founder of PACK Performance, where he helps individual athletes and teams each the next level.
The Markham native credits longtime Knights head coach – the now retired Phil Mosley as his coaching mentor.
And Padachey went through a unique hiring process. First he was interviewed, then he was asked to run a practice in front of members of the Knights athletic department including director and Welland native Michele O’Keefe.
“I was lucky enough to get the call back and get the job,” Padachey said with a smile.
“The Head Coach of Women’s Basketball is something that I am extremely grateful for, and not something that was planned – it kind of just happened. However, I’m eager to step into this role and help grow and develop the program with the young and hungry team we have. My goal as a coach is of course the success of our team, but more importantly, to help the girls be the best versions of themselves both on and off the court. Basketball has given me so much throughout my life, and I feel like in this role, I have the opportunity to give back, not only to the team but to the entire region for all it has done for me.
I couldn’t be happier to be back. It feels right, and feels good to be a Knight again.”
Padachey uses three words when asked what makes a great basketball player. “Consistency with effort.”
Padachey thinks he’ll have at least five returners from last year’s squad, and hopes to land a strong recruiting class.
For more information on the Niagara College Knights visit goknights.ca
Rod Mawhood is a lifelong Niagara native who has had the pleasure of working in all three mediums – Radio, Print and TV – for over 20 years. His first announcing gig was with the then St. Catharines Stompers. Since then he’s worked in radio and TV in Toronto, and currently is the announcer for the Niagara IceDogs and Niagara River Lions.
Rod also covers the Buffalo Bills for FOX Sports and the Buffalo Sabres for NBC Sports.
