Coach Chris.
People first.
Always.

Meet Coach Chris

Skills for the game. Confidence for life.

I'm Chris West, and coaching is about helping young people discover what they're capable of. I want athletes to leave a session with stronger skills, a clearer sense of purpose, and the confidence to keep trying when something feels difficult.

Basketball has been part of my life for more than 20 years. As a player, I've experienced three national championships and three second-place finishes, and received an invitation to the Canadian Armed Forces CISM National Team basketball camp. As a coach, I've helped guide three teams to provincial championships, alongside second-place finishes. Those experiences have taught me to value preparation, teamwork, and the progress that happens long before the final score.

More than 15 years in the Canadian Armed Forces have also shaped my approach. I bring structure, accountability, and adaptability to coaching, along with the understanding that good leadership starts with knowing the people you're supporting. My NCCP training supports an approach grounded in ethics, safety, inclusion, and respect.

A clear path to progress

I use the GROW model: Goals, Reality, Options, and Will. We identify what an athlete wants to achieve, look honestly at where they are now, explore ways forward, and choose the next action. It gives young athletes a voice in their development and turns a big goal into something they can work on today.

That progress can look different for every player: a better defensive possession, an extra pass, the courage to ask a question, or encouraging a teammate after a mistake. These are moments worth noticing. They build the habits and confidence that carry into the rest of an athlete's life.

Showing up for the community

One season, while already coaching a U12 girls team, I stepped forward to help coach a U14 boys team that needed volunteers to keep its season going. The team went on to win its division championship. Just as meaningful was watching the players become more connected, accountable, and proud of one another.

My community involvement has also included mentoring fellow coaches, supporting practice and season planning, running weekly summer drop-in basketball, and coordinating the annual Ascent Canada Day 3x3 tournament.

I'm honoured to have been nominated and selected as a finalist for the Mike MacKay Stewardship Award. The support of fellow coaches and the South Shore Surf Basketball Executive Committee means a great deal to me. Their recommendations reflect the parts of coaching I care about most: helping young people feel that they belong, celebrating their progress, and showing up consistently for the community around them.

At Ascent Youth Coaching, that's the invitation: come as you are, work toward your goals, and grow with support.