Coaching Staff

Paul Langford stands as a pillar of basketball coaching, with an illustrious career that spans over 45 years. As a founding coach at VK Basketball, he has been instrumental from the very beginning (2016), shaping the club’s philosophy and coaching strategies to foster a tradition of excellence.

His coaching career is distinguished by a remarkable 28-year stint at Riverside Secondary, where he guided his teams to numerous BC Regional Championships and achieved a Provincial Championship in 2023. His tenure at Riverside underscores his talent for developing elite basketball players. This expertise also extends to the national stage, demonstrated during his time as a coach at the Canada Summer Games, where his strategic skills were prominently showcased.

Jeremy Neufeld boasts an illustrious 20-year coaching career, highlighted by a profound commitment to developing top-tier basketball talent at VK Basketball, where he has been a pivotal figure for the past 7 years. His tenure at VK Basketball is marked by numerous accolades and achievements, underscoring his ability to nurture and lead.

As a player, Jeremy’s career was equally distinguished. He was a vital member of the BC U19 Provincial Team, earning National Champion honours. His collegiate career saw him excel at the University of the Fraser Valley (UFV) where he was honoured as the Student-Athlete of the Year, and later at Simon Fraser University, where he served as Team Captain. Jeremy also competed professionally in the International Basketball League (IBL) with the Vancouver Titans, showcasing his skills on a larger stage.

Transitioning to coaching, Jeremy directed the Senior Girls’ team at Riverside Secondary to a Provincial Championship and led them to three consecutive Provincial Finals. His exceptional coaching skills were recognized when he was named Co-Coach of the Year by the Poco Sport Alliance Awards.

Kat’s basketball journey is marked by extraordinary achievements, including a phenomenal high school career at Heritage Park Secondary in Mission, where her teams won three consecutive provincial championships from 2000 to 2002. With an impressive record of 81-3 during her high school years, Kat demonstrated early on her prowess on the court, which earned her a scholarship to play Division 1 basketball at Jacksonville State University in Alabama.

Transitioning into coaching, Kat served as an assistant coach at Douglas College, where she helped lead the team to Nationals, securing a commendable fourth-place finish. At VK Basketball, she applies her deep understanding of the game and has coached multiple age groups ranging from U14 to U17.

Dany Charlery, a celebrated Canada-West All-Star and All-Canadian at Brandon University, has extensive experience both as a player and a coach. He began his coaching career as an assistant at Quest University Canada from 2010 to 2012, working with both the women’s and men’s basketball teams. As head coach of Quest’s women’s team from 2012 to 2018, he secured two PACWEST Championships, including an undefeated season.

Dany has also served as an assistant coach for the SFU and UBC men’s teams, showcasing his adept coaching skills across different levels. A foundational coach at VK Basketball since its inception, Dany continues to leverage his deep basketball knowledge and experience to develop and inspire athletes within the program.

Chris Kennedy brings a wealth of experience to VK Basketball, with a coaching career spanning 37 years, including 8 years with VK. Throughout his extensive career, Chris has demonstrated a remarkable ability to lead and develop teams across all age groups from pre-K to grade 12.

His coaching accolades include leading the U17 Team BC to a gold medal at the Nationals in 1998. Additionally, he has successfully coached Junior Boys, Senior Boys, and Senior Girls Teams to the BC Championships Final 4, showcasing his versatile coaching skills. Chris’s leadership extends beyond the court; he served as the President of BC High School Boys Basketball and was honoured with the Ken Wright Award for Basketball Coaching Excellence.

In 2023, Chris was recognized with the Award of Citation by BC School Sports for his exceptional leadership in athletics in BC as an administrator. His foundational role at VK Basketball and his profound impact on high school sports underscore his dedication to fostering athletic and personal growth in young athletes.

Danie Gardner’s basketball journey includes notable stints as a player at both Dalhousie University and the University of the Fraser Valley, where she distinguished herself as a PacWest All-Star. This foundation set the stage for a successful coaching career spanning over 30 years. Danie has demonstrated her leadership and coaching acumen with BC Provincial teams and at Trinity Western University. Currently, she coaches at Langley Christian School, where her she has led the Lightning to four Provincial banners.

Megan Neufeld brings a distinguished playing history and coaching acumen to VK Basketball. During her five years with the UFV Cascades, she was pivotal in the team’s transition from the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) to Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS), now known as USPORT. Her tenure at UFV was marked by significant achievements, including silver and bronze medals at the CCAA National Championships, being named a CCAA Championship All-Star, and receiving the CCAA scholar-athlete award. Additionally, Megan earned accolades as UFV’s Female Athlete of the Year and Women’s Team MVP for the 2009/10 season, along with being a two-time CIS (USPORT) Academic All-Canadian.

Megan has been coaching basketball intermittently since 2009, taking a brief hiatus to attend medical school. She has been a coach at VK for the past two years, bringing her extensive experience and passion for the game to the development of young athletes in the program.

Mike Miller brings over two decades of extensive coaching experience to VK Basketball, now in his second year with the club. His coaching journey is rooted deeply within the Mission School District, where he dedicated over 20 years to coaching basketball, profoundly impacting the development of young athletes in the community.

Mike’s expertise also extends to higher levels of the sport. He has held significant roles as an assistant coach with the Simon Fraser University (SFU) women’s basketball team and at Langara College, where he helped shape collegiate athletes into competitive players.

Marco Iannuzzi is a celebrated athlete and coach, whose sports career is adorned with prestigious titles and awards. A Grey Cup Champion and a 1st round draft pick in the CFL, Marco enjoyed an impressive 8-year career with the BC Lions. His athletic prowess was evident early on, with his role in securing two NCAA Ivy League Championships and a CJFL National Championship. Additionally, he led his high school teams to three undefeated Provincial Championships.

Beyond the field, Marco has been recognized for his significant contributions to the community. He is a recipient of the Governor General’s Sovereign’s Medal for Volunteers and the CFL’s Tom Pate Award for outstanding community engagement. Moreover, his commitment to community building earned him the BC Lions Jamie Taras Award twice. Marco also showcased his intellectual versatility by winning an episode of CBC’s “Canada’s Smartest Person.”

Marco has been coaching various sports since 2002, including football, track, and soccer, and expanded his coaching repertoire to basketball in 2016. His diverse coaching background and extensive experience both in competitive sports and community engagement highlight his multifaceted approach to mentorship and development.

Andrew Lloyd joins VK Basketball with a distinguished 27-year coaching resume, embarking on his first year with the club. His storied career is highlighted by multiple prestigious accolades that underscore his exceptional ability to develop successful basketball programs.

Andrew was the esteemed recipient of the Ken Wright Coaching Excellence Award in 2006, recognized for his transformative leadership of the Gleneagle basketball program. Under his guidance, Gleneagle achieved new heights of excellence, dominating at local, regional, and provincial levels.

His achievements garnered further recognition in the same year when he was honored as the BC School Sports Coach of the Year, celebrating his profound impact on high school sports.

In 2022, Andrew’s long-standing dedication to school athletics was commemorated with the Gary Scott Builders Award, which celebrated his extensive service to athletics within School District 43.

Jun Labrador has been coaching at Live2Give Basketball since 2011, bringing with him a rich background in basketball that includes playing in the Philippines from 1992 to 1994 and at the University of Winnipeg for a year. In addition to his role at Live2Give, Jun has contributed to youth basketball development as a coach for junior boys’ teams at Gleneagle Secondary for two years, and most recently at Riverside Secondary. His extensive experience as both a player and a coach helps him effectively guide and develop young athletes.

Olivia Wheatley returns to VK Basketball, where she once shined as a player, now stepping into her role as a coach in her first year. Olivia’s journey in basketball is highlighted by her recent achievement as a key player on Riverside’s team that won the British Columbia Provincial Championship in 2023. Following this success, she committed to continuing her basketball career at Thompson River University.

As a VK alumni, Olivia brings a unique perspective to her coaching, blending her firsthand experience as a player with her emerging coaching skills. Her familiarity with VK’s culture and training methods equips her well to mentor young athletes, guiding them through their developmental phases both on and off the court.