On the heels of her appointment as Head Coach Women's Basketball, Chante Clarke has announced her leadership team going into the 2026-27 season.
"To have a winning program, you can't just have great players; you need a unified system", Clarke commented. "This new look allows us to reset the standards of the program. By combining different backgrounds, we will have voices that challenge the status quo, and ensure our scouting, player development, and in-game adjustments remain elite."
The group includes a highly skilled and knowledgeable staff who will bring new dimension and vision to the program's longer-term development and success. An approach strongly supported by the Athletics Department administration.
"We're heading into the upcoming season with a different approach to continued improvement and increased competitiveness. It's not only about coaches themselves on the court anymore, it's looking at things with a wider lens and creating a true all-around support system for a part-time head coach that will alleviate some off-court responsibilities and pressures that come with program development and sustainability", explained Senior Manager of Athletics & Recreation Melanie Gerin-Lajoie. "It's creating a leadership collective that will have everything operating at 100% +, building a robust program from top to bottom, and ultimately leading to us a championship."
Clarke's supporting staff includes:
ALEIA GLAND – Assistant Coach. Gland has served as an assistant coach with the Huskies since 2024. She played her collegiate basketball at William & Mary in the NCAA after a stellar high school career in Toronto, ON where she was voted a Toronto Top 5 prospect averaging 21.0 ppg at David and Mary Thompson Collegiate Institute.
KARA DASILVA – Assistant Coach. A George Brown alumni, DaSilva suited up for the Huskies in the 2012-13 season while completing a post graduate diploma. Since 2022, she has supported the men's and women's basketball programs as an assistant coach and also varsity tutor. She has also coached for Toronto Triple Threat of the Ontario Basketball Association for nearly 10 years.
MIKE RAO – Assistant Coach. With over 45 years of coaching and teaching experience, Rao retired from full-time coaching in 2024 after spending six seasons as the bench boss of the Brock Badgers women's basketball team. During his tenure with the Badgers he was a U SPORTS and OUA women's basketball coach of the year with a career record of 69-33, an OUA championship title and a U SPORTS national silver medal. He was also a lead assistant with the Guelph Nighthawks in the CEBL.
COURTNEY CHARLES – Strategic Advisor. Charles is currently the Vice President, Basketball & Franchise Operations for Raptors 905 where he oversees business operations, basketball affairs and long-term strategic planning. Charles will serve as strategic initiatives advisor to the Huskies program, notably focusing on revenue generation and business strategy.
From increased revenue generation to better depth of talent identification, coach development and stronger community engagement, Clarke and the Huskies are excited to welcome the newly formed leadership team.
"When you enter a rebuilding phase, trust is your most valuable currency. Retaining Aleia and Kara is a massive win for us as they already have deep, authentic relationships with our current roster", said Clarke. "And adding Mike to the coaching staff is an asset as he brings with him decades of basketball wisdom. Bringing in a seasoned mentor coach is a cheat code for a rebuilding program."
A sentiment echoed by Gerin-Lajoie, "Aleia and Kara give us heart and history, while Mike gives us perspective and wisdom. Combine that with the fresh energy and strategic direction of Chante, and the business acumen and passion for basketball development Courtney brings to the table, we have a leadership team that is ready to elevate this program and establish that long term winning culture."
To round out the group, the Huskies will also be searching for a Talent Identification & Brand Lead who will be responsible for building a talent database for scouting and recruitment, as well as increasing brand visibility and community engagement. For more information on the position, contact Senior Manager of Athletics & Recreation Melanie Gerin-Lajoie at melanie.gerinlajoie@georgebrown.ca.
If you're interested in joining the Women's Basketball team as a student-athlete, please complete the prospective athlete form or contact Huskies Varsity Operations Coordinator Mark Couch at mark.couch@georgebrown.ca.
