DAVE KING IS NEW ABBOTT BASKETBALL COACH

Dave King, one of the top Quebec players in CIS history who has amassed tons of pro, collegiate and international
experience, is the new men's basketball coach at John Abbott College.

King replaces Scott Mawhinney, who resigned in May after leading John Abbott to its all-time best result of a bronze at
the 2007 Nationals.

King, 44, certainly has the credentials to take Abbott back to the top.  He has held down nearly every coaching job
imaginable in the last decade.

His big break came in 2002, when he was named the first-ever Developmental Head Coach of the Quebec Provincial Centre for Excellence, a permanent basketball academy and one of the few full-time coaching jobs in the province.

He spent his summers raking up the hardware for Quebec provincial teams, winning gold at the 2001 Canada Games as a Quebec Team assistant.  King was promoted to head coach of the U-17 Quebec team in 2004, leading the squad to the silver medal at the 2005 Canada Games.

Canada Basketball recognized his talent, hiring the former National Team player as a pool coach to identify potential prospects.

King has excelled at every level of basketball as a player and coach.

Further beefing up King's resume was a stint as Assistant Coach with the McGill Redmen from 2000 to 2002.  He even spent a year coaching pros for the Montreal Royal of the ABA (2007-2008).

As if that wasn't enough, King ran the sport-study basketball program at John Rennie High School and started his own camp, Hoopster Academy.

ABBOTT THRILLED

John Abbott Athletic Director Steve Shaw had nothing but praise for King, who lives in Dorval and is married with two children.

"We are very excited to have David join our department," Shaw said in a statement.

"He has terrific ethics and morals and has been coaching basketball in the Montreal area for many years. He will also be a strong addition to the FQSE AAA league."

EARNED REP ON COURT

King earned his name on downtown Montreal courts, starring for Northmount High School in Cote-des-Neiges.

He made his mark on the national scene a few years later at Bishop's, where he helped to elevate the tiny Townships school with his incredible strength and scoring ability.

He helped lead Bishop's to a provincial title in 1988, the same year that he was named a CIAU (now CIS) All-Canadian.

He's one of only three Bishop's men's players to be named All Canadian.