Rao heads to Cape Breton
It was an offer Chris Rao could not refuse.
When Cape Breton University offered the 29-year-old Welland native a chance to be the school’s interim women’s basketball head coach, he jumped at the chance.
“CBU is an important place for me. I went to school here, I did my undergrad and teachers college here, my first coaching gig was here and they were in need of a coach to take over for a leave. When they reached out, it was honestly impossible for me to say no.”
That being said, it was difficult for Rao to leave Niagara College after five seasons at the helm of the Knights’ women’s program.
“It was very tough. It was an easy decision in the sense that it is up a level and it’s an opportunity but leaving the Niagara squad and what we’ve built was really emotional and really hard,” he said. “It was not easy, especially telling the girls.”
Rao is proud of his accomplishments at Niagara.
“We made some amazing strides. When we took over, Niagara College women’s basketball had won two gold medals in 1969 and 1970 and then had won three medals since, one of them was in 2018 when Bridget Atkinson was killing everybody. We were able to win two medals.”
The pair of Ontario Colleges Athletic Association bronze medals were prove that Rao had build a model for sustainable success in terms of player development and recruitment.
“Scholarship budgets went up, the gym got redone, our locker rooms got improved and the way we did things got better,” the Notre Dame Welland alumni said. “I feel like we impacted that place really well and a lot of it has to do with Michele (athletic director O’Keefe) and lot of it had to do with pushing for those things and trying to make things better for our student/athletes. I hope that (college president) Sean Kennedy and Michele will continue to change the lives of student/athletes in positive ways.”
His tenure at Niagara was a time of personal and professional development.
“When I got the job I was 24 and I’ve grown a lot as a person and learned a lot as a head coach. I learned basically how to run a program and all aspects of it. I learned what my shortcomings were and what I needed to work on and get better at.”
Rao’s first day on campus at Cape Breton was Friday and he is looking forward to his latest gig. He has workouts scheduled with players tomorrow.
“It’s a new opportunity with a great group of kids and I can’t wait to get on court. I am always excited to get on court. It is what I love to do, building those relationships with players and implementing what we are going to do as a team,” he said. “It is a new challenge and a different challenge from when I took over Niagara but it is exciting.”
Rao hasn’t talked with Cape Breton yet but he’s hoping to continue on as an assistant coach with the Canadian Elite Basketball League champion Niagara River Lions.
“The men’s head coach here in Cape Breton was an assistant coach in Edmonton this past season so I don’t think it will be an issue. I am hoping to stay on if everything aligns but there are a lot of conversations yet to be had.”
Rao is taking over for head coach Fabian McKenzie who is taking a medical leave for the upcoming 2024/25 season.
“The Capers Athletics program has a strong history of bold leadership. For this reason, and his exceptional track record, we are thrilled to welcome Chris Rao back to CBU in this new capacity,”CBU president David C. Dingwall said in a press release. “We look forward to cheering on the Capers women’s basketball team under his guidance and wish Coach Fabe all the best as he takes the time he needs.”
Cape Breton athletics and recreation director John Ryan is confident in Rao’s ability to lead the squad.
“His familiarity with our university along with his extensive coaching experience makes him the ideal person to step into this role and we are grateful to welcome him back,” says Ryan. “We wish Coach Fabe a full and speedy recovery and look forward to his return.”
