After three seasons as Lead Assistant Coach, Dave Waknuk became the Pronghorns Women’s Basketball Head Coach during the 2018-19 season.
Originally from Spirit River, Alberta, Dave started his coaching journey in Grande Prairie, AB, while teaching in the area for several years. Starting as an Assistant Coach at Grande Prairie Regional College during the 2005-2006 season, he spent three seasons in that role before becoming Head Coach of the GPRC Wolves during the 2008-09 season. In his first full season as Head Coach in 2009-10, Waknuk helped lead the team to a 21-3 record and on to winning the ACAC Championship with a thrilling 63-59 victory over the MacEwan Griffins. This was the program’s first league championship in over 20 years.
For his efforts, Dave was named the 2009-10 ACAC Coach of the Year and one of his players was named the CCAA Player of the Year.
In total, Dave spent ten seasons with the GPRC Wolves in the ACAC, spending six as the Head Coach. The team made the playoffs eight seasons and produced several ACAC and CCAA All-Stars during his tenure.
Dave has long been involved with Alberta Basketball, coaching various age group teams since 2012 and representing Team Alberta at the Canada Summer Games in 2013 and 2017. In 2014, his team won the U16 Gold at the Western Canadian U16 Nationals. In 2019, he led Team Alberta to a U17 National Silver medal, which was the program’s best finish in a decade.
In his first full year of Dave being Head Coach with the U of L Pronghorns in 2018-19, the team made it to the Canada West Final Four, completing their best finish in over 20 years. After making the playoffs in 19-20 and 21-22, the Pronghorns again returned to the Canada West Final Four in 2022 for the second time in three full seasons.
Dave has been involved in Coaching Education for many years, including completing the Coaches Association of Canada Advanced Coaching Diploma, being a NCCP Train to Compete Certified Coach, a NCCP Coach Learning Facilitator and completing the Euroleague Coaches Academy.
