Coach Bios

Craig Nickel is a long-time coach with the KW Lightning, having worked with teams from the Major Atom to Junior levels.  He is fully NCCP Level 3 certified and served as the Assistant Coach of the University of Waterloo Women’s Basketball team from 2000 to 2004.  Over his teaching career, he has coached Junior and Senior girls and boys teams at Grand River Collegiate and now Waterloo Collegiate, having led teams to numerous WCSSAA and CWOSSA championships.  In November 2008, he co-coached the WCI Sr. Girls team that won bronze medal at “AAAA” OFSAA in Sarnia.  Craig has also been involved on the staff of the Nike All-Canada Basketball Camp, coordinates the YBA summer community basketball camp, coaches at Naismith Sports camp and does presentations to leadership conferences across Canada.     Coaching with Craig again this year with the KW Lightning Major Midget girls team is Doug Schenck and Laura Watkins.      Doug Schenck has been involved with this team for the last few years and has his NCCP 2 certification.  Coach Doug has coached in the YBA, the YBL and was the 2009 Tri-County MDP Coach. He played from 1976-1981 for Centre Wellington DHS in Fergus which is a District 10 school and was an All Star in 1980 and 1981.  From 1981-1982 he played for Centennial and then from 1982-1984 for Conestoga College. He continues to play basketball in the Kitchener Men's League.   Laura Watkins is a great addition to the coaching team.  She was a WCSSAA first team all-star and graduated from WLU where she played 4 years and was the captain of the womens’ basketball team.  This is Laura's second year with the team.