Head Coach Ryan Heggie talks to his team during a timeout.

Being a head coach of any team can be a tough job, but being the head coach of a college team adds even more pressure.

For Ryan Heggie, the Kodiaks head coach, a job on the college coaching scene was always the plan, but there was a time it didn’t seem to be a possibility.

That changed when he was given the head coaching position for the Lethbridge College Kodiaks men’s basketball team.

“It was part of my vision for myself as a coach eventually. It wasn’t going very good for a while, but some things opened up,” said Heggie.

The Kodiaks team has seen its fair share of success since Heggie became their head coach.

Heggie joined the Kodiaks family seven years ago and has brought his teams to either a provincial or national birth every year.

Heggie says one of the main reasons for his success is he holds his team responsible.

“I keep them accountable to play team basketball and continually work as hard as we can. I don’t let them get away with a lot,” said Heggie.

Heggie also says he likes to motivate his team by dipping into famous quotes to get them ready for a game, but he also says players at this level of basketball should be self-motivated and know which teams motivate them more.

Colten Murray, a fourth year Kodiak, says Heggie can come across as harsh, but that he knows deep down that’s not the type of person Heggie is.

“Me and Heggie probably have a strange relationship. We’re good friends off the court, but then he kind of takes the drill sergeant role on the court. When he still freaks out I’m terrified of him. But deep down I know that he’s pretty chill,” said Murray.

Murray finished by saying his coach was one of the most underrated coaches in basketball and he doesn’t get the recognition he deserves.

Heggie will continue his strong run as the Kodiaks coach and hopes this year’s hard work doesn’t end in the ACAC Championships.