The Ottawa BlackJacks of the CEBL have parted ways with head coach Charles Dubé-Brais the team announced Friday afternoon.
The club currently sports an 0-3 record to start the 2022 season following a 98-81 home loss to the Scarborough Shooting Stars. Dubé-Brais leaves the club with a 4-13 regular season record and a 1-1 playoff record after taking over the head coaching role prior to the 2021 campaign.
“After a disappointing start to our season, I felt it was necessary to make a personnel change,” said BlackJacks GM Jevohn Shepherd. “This team should be performing better, and I believe a fresh outlook will help turn things around. Charles (Dubé-Brais) is a very good coach and I appreciate his commitment with the BlackJacks over the past two seasons. As our current director of basketball strategy and analytics, James (Derouin) knows this league and its players very well. I look forward to seeing him taking over on the sidelines and move this team in a positive direction. We have a lot of work to do in Ottawa, but I’m confident we will make our fans proud.”
The BlackJacks currently sit in last place in the CEBL through their first three games of the season. Ottawa, which will play host to the 2022 CEBL championships later this summer, was largely expected to compete for a title this year after a strong end to the year in 2021 and a slew of signings in the offseason. With 17 games remaining in the season, the front office is banking on a new voice in the locker room to turn things around and keep that vision intact.
In the meantime, Ottawa announced that Director of Basketball Strategy and Analytics, James Derouin, would become the team’s interim head coach. Derouin, an Ottawa native, has been the head coach of the University of Ottawa Gee-Gees Men’s basketball team since 2010.
“It is never easy to join a team this way, however I am excited about helping lead the BlackJacks to success,” remarked Derouin. “Being provided my first professional coaching assignment in my hometown is an honour. Having been a part of the BlackJacks organization for the past two seasons, I feel like I understand this league. I am also grateful to the University of Ottawa for allowing me to take this opportunity to coach professionally in the CEBL while maintaining my university coaching career.”
Derouin will make his professional coaching debut on Sunday when Ottawa travels to St. John’s for a contest against the expansion Newfoundland Growlers.
-Kyle Skinner
Twitter: @JKyleSkinner