Coaches Hall of Fame
Alberta Shooting Stars
Coaches Hall of Fame
2024 Hall of Fame Coach
Kathy Lalor, Lindsay Thurber Comprehensive High School
Kathy is one of the most dedicated and longest serving coaches in Alberta. She has a true passion for the game and her players. She has coached basketball for 43 year and helpd to raise the level of basketball for girls in Alberta. Kathy considers coaching the best part of her day. She loves to see the growth and development of her players and the sheer joy they get from playing the game. Red Deer College coach, Avery Harrison says of Kathy "Her teams are always sound and well prepared, and her love for the game is evident to anyone who watched them play. Her contributions to the basketball community in Red Deer and Central Alberta cannot be measured in more words as we continue to be blessed with her vision and leadership. Congratulations to a basketball coaching icon."
Achievements include:
- Played 2 seasons for Red Deer College
- Attended the University of Alberta where she graduated with a Bachelor of Education
- Coached at West Part Jr. High for 12 years, and Lindsay Thurber for 30 years
- Her teams have won 19 Central Zone Championships and attended 4A Provincials in all 19 of those years
- They finished 7the the past 3 years and have won the consolation championship twice
- She has served as the Central Zone ranker for 10 years
- Kathy has been the Central Zone commissioner for 10 years
- She has been on the organizing committee for 4 Provincial 4A Championships, including in 2024
- Grade 1-9 students have benefited from her basketball camp for the last 19 years
- Kathy has set up a basketball scholarship for young women wanting to develop their skills and become better players
- Basketball is the family business with husband Duane also a long time coach. All 3 of their daughters played for her and went on to play at the University level
2024 Hall of Fame Coach
Diane Hilko, W.H. Croxford High School
Diane has one of the most impressive resumes of any coach. She was a highly decorated athlete and she carried that over to a successful coaching career. She wants her athletes to be successful and feel the joy in playing basketball and sports in general by having a solid work ethic. Diane finds joy when a player realizes that she can be better than she thinks she is and better than the limits that she places on herself.
Achievements include:
- Excelling in high school sports as an athlete - basketball, volleyball, badminton, field hockey and track and field
- Playing spring club basketball, she won 4 consecutive Ontario Provincial Championships
- She played club softball in the spring and summer
- She made her mark as an athlete at Brock University
- She participated for one year on the Track and Field team where she was the Ontario Discus Champion
- As a basketball player, she was a 3 year captain, 4 time league all-star and a 3 time MVP in her 5 seasons
- She was named Brock University Athlete of the Year
- Kathy graduated from Brock with a Bachelor of Education degree and an honors Bachelor of Physical Education degree
- She started high school girls basketball while she was still at Brock
- Has coached and 5 different high schools in Ontario, Saskatchewan and Alberta winning numerous games and championships
- In 1994, she coached a U15 Girls club team to an Ontario Provincial Championship
- Assistant provincial team coach in Ontario and Saskatchewan
- Helped Saskatchewan to a silver at the Canada Summer Games
- She has been a USport Women's Basketball head and assistant coach at 4 different universities.
- At the University of Regina she helped the team to a bronze and gold medal at the National Championships
- She retired from teaching in 2019 while at John G. Diefenbaker
- For the last 3 years, she has been the head coach at W.H. Croxford High School in Airdrie. She has earned 2 league championships and 2 silver medals at 4A South Central Zones
- In 2014 she earned the Calgary High School Coaches Award
- Incredibly, this is the 8th Hall of Fame that Diane has been inducted into as an athlete or coach. With this year's Shooting Stars Award, she is in a Hall of Fame in 4 provinces.
2024 Hall of Fame Coach
Ron Hopkins, Swoosh Basketball
Ron is one of Alberta's most passionate, dedicated and enthusiastic coaches. He has made a significant contribution to girls basketball in Alberta and has helped thousands of young Alberta athletes through the SWOOSH program. He strongly believes in teaching life lessons through sport and creating impactful relationships with athletes and families. Ron is passionate about using the game of basketball to invest in developing character in his athletes and all he has ever wanted since he was young was to coach players who share his passion for the game. Congratulations on making a difference with the youth of Alberta.
Achievements include:
- He graduated from Garfield High School in Seattle and holds a Diploma from the Griffin School of Business
- An NCCP Level 2 coach, he is also a Gold Licensed coach with USA basketball
- Coached at John Maland, Bellerose and Scona High Schools for 8 years. At each stop, his teams made significant improvements
- He led Scona to their first ever #1 ASAA ranking
- Ron has spent 20 years as an assistant coach with NAIT, The King's University, Red Deer College and Ambrose University
- At NAIT, he was part of the team that made the playoffs for the first time in school history and first ever national ranking.
- They earned the bronze medal in the ACAC Championship and qualified for Nationals
- He served one season as the NAIT head coach
- Has coached club basketball for over 20 years
- Developed the SWOOSH CANADA BASKETBALL CLUB, which is one of the most comprehensive clubs in Canada
- Through SWOOSH, he organizes 5 large club tournaments, some of which are the biggest in the country
- Founder and lead instructor of various camps and clinics
- He has worked with numerous SWOOSH players that he has helped develop into post secondary players
- He enjoys working with and mentoring young coaches
