Our Foundation
Eric Butler started Split Second in 2010 after a 13 year post-secondary basketball career (five years at UBC and eight years professional in Europe). Today, SSB is run by a group of men and women who found themselves through basketball. Many used these lesson to go on to play at the post-secondary, professional and national team levels. More important than any achievements they had on the court are the lessons they learned on the journey.
Our team of coaches is united in our passion for sharing these lessons and helping the next generation of players develop into the best possible versions of themselves.
The Split Second Team
Raoul Korner
A huge Thanks from everyone in the Split Second Community to coach K for all his help making SSB the best youth basketball club in Canada!
While Raoul Korner may have spent the last 25 years primarily coaching adult professionals in Germany, Austria, Netherlands and Taiwan, he has deep roots and passion for helping young athletes reach their peak. Raoul has done this at several European clubs as well as with the Austrian Jr and Sr nationals teams.
While on a year’s coaching sabbatical, Raoul embedded himself at some top Spanish clubs to study their youth development programs and best practices. He followed this up with half a year in Vancouver Canada to help SSB further refine and modernize our coaching systems and to train SSB athletes and coaches. We’re very grateful for Raoul’s guidance and lasting impact at SSB.
Helping hundreds of players find their path through basketball isn’t easy. In addition to all the coaching requirements, there are countless administrative and organizational hours spent behind the scenes to put it all together.
Lesley McKnight is the tireless leader of the administrative team which includes her husband Eric, their 3 children Molly, Finny and Lukey as well as lots of help from the full time coaching staff.
The Extended Team
Over the last 14+ years, dozens of fantastic people have coached young men and women in our Split Second Basketball community. Several of these people have been consistently coaching for many years and others have just helped out mentoring our players between Pro seasons overseas.
We are very grateful to all these people who generously share their time and experience to help the next generation reach their dreams.
John Dumont
Basketball has long been in the Dumont blood, with 3 generations of the family playing starring roles for the Vancouver College Fighting Irish.
While he won several awards and championships playing for VC, UBC, Canada and then professionally in the Philippines, John Dumont’s real legacy is the people he impacted on his journey.
Where as a player John’s biggest strength was his shooting and ability to finish in the lane, it was his patience, kindness and attention to detail that made him special as a coach.
In addition to raising his 3 successful sons, from 2010 to 2015 John played a key role in shaping the values and teaching methods that continue to guide Split Second Basketball to this day, 4 years after his passing.
Randy Nohr
SFX University, Canada, Pro ball in Europe
Ruth Hamblin
Oregon State, Team Canada, Pro ball in WNBA + Europe
Alex Duford
University of Ottawa
Tommy Nixon
5 years @ UBC, Canada, Pro basketball in Hong Kong
Drew Urquhart
4 years at University of Vermont, Canada, Pro ball in Europe
Marc Trasolini
Santa Clara, Canada, Pro ball in Europe and Asia for 8+ years
Rashaun Broadus
BYU, Pro ball in Europe for 10 years, Coaching staff with Memphis Grizzlies
Drazen Rimarcuk
10+ years pro basketball in Europe, Croatia
Conor Morgan
5 years @ UBC, Canada, Pro basketball in Spanish ACB
Simon Crossfield
Thompson Rivers University
Geoff Pippus
University of Alberta, UBC
Jess Hanson
5 years @ UBC, Pro ball in Europe
Joey Vickery
As the youngest of 7 athletic and very competitive siblings, it wasn’t easy for little Joey to get many wins during family games of ping pong, ice hockey or any other sport they would play. However, with really quick feet, great touch and a natural understanding of how to create an advantage on the court, Joey soon began to excel as an athlete.
As a 5’9” shooting guard who went on to win a couple of National Championships with the University of Brandon, play a starring role for the Canadian National team and play professionally for 2 decades in Europe, it’s pretty obvious that Joey has some special gifts.
Joey is the epitome of a Split Second player. He can catch and release his shot in less than 4/10ths of a second…and from deep. Joey is a fantastic teammate who makes others around him better.
Joey started coaching with us in 2010, and although he returned to Europe in 2017 to be with his daughter, his values, ideas and spirit continue to live through Split Second Basketball.
Rob Finlay
Terry Fox Ravens
Samantha Pyke
University of Manitoba
Patrick Simon
SFU, UBC, Pro basketball in Europe
Jay Gundzik
With a passion for sport, an eye for design and a head for marketing, Jay plays a key role on our Split Second team.
Jay brings years of experience working all over the world with a number of different brands, companies and marketing agencies. We are very grateful to have Jay’s creative vision guiding our path at Split Second.
“I can’t thank them enough for what they have done with my son. He has been infected with their joy of basketball. If you can get your kid anywhere near these guys you will have done your child a great service.”
Dan Shugarman- parent