Today on the Basketball Manitoba Podcast, we have Jennifer How.

She has dedicated more than 30 years to basketball in Manitoba as a coach, manager, and educator.

She began her teaching career at Glenlawn Collegiate in 1997 and has been a cornerstone of the athletic program at Westgate Collegiate since 1999, where she has coached varsity girls basketball and contributed across multiple sports.

She was also part of one of the most successful eras in University of Winnipeg Wesmen history, serving as team manager from 1992 to 1996. During that time, the program captured three consecutive national championships and tied a North American record for consecutive victories.

She has played a significant role in managing the Basketball Manitoba Awards and is an advocate for women's and rural basketball in Manitoba.

Throughout her career, Jen has played a significant role in developing athletes and building strong school sport programs, while also helping lead and support athletic departments at the high school level.

She is a member of the Canada Basketball Hall of Fame, the Manitoba Basketball Hall of Fame, and the Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame.

Today on the Basketball Manitoba Podcast, we have Jon Giesbrecht, a coach who’s built a career around player development, the mental game, and helping athletes play free.

He started coaching at 15 when he stepped in to coach his younger brother’s team, and he hasn’t stopped since then.

He’s coached many of those same players to a JV provincial championship and an undefeated Grade 12 season at John Taylor Collegiate, where he was the co-coach of the program, with many players going on to play university basketball.

He has coached at the provincial team level, winning a gold medal as an assistant with the U17 boys team. He’s also worked with Canada Basketball as a video coordinator for the Canadian Junior Men’s National Team.

He’s coached at the University of Winnipeg and the University of Manitoba, including two seasons as a full-time assistant coach with the University of Regina women’s program.

He moved on from the college level and went on to coach prep in Italy as the director of mental performance.

The last two seasons, he was with the Vancouver Bandits as Director of Mental Skills & Performance.

He also runs a private practice called “Play Free”, where he teaches athletes how to handle pressure, regulate emotions, and perform when it matters.

Today on the Basketball Manitoba Podcast, we have Vic Pruden.

Vic Pruden’s influence on basketball in Manitoba spans more than seven decades. He began coaching in 1957, winning a provincial championship, and went on to build championship programs at the high school, university, provincial, and national levels. He was instrumental in establishing both the men’s and women’s intercollegiate basketball programs at the University of Winnipeg, guiding the women’s team to multiple conference titles and national finalist appearances, while also contributing to the development of Canada’s national junior program.

Beyond the wins, Vic helped shape the foundation of the game in Manitoba. He founded major events such as the Fort Garry Invitational and the Golden Boy Invitational (now known as the Wesmen Classic), launched influential summer camps, served as the first president of the Manitoba Basketball Coaches Association, and authored A Conceptual Approach to Basketball. His impact has been recognized with induction into both the Manitoba Basketball Hall of Fame and the Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame.

In recognition of his lifelong commitment to the game and his understanding of the financial challenges student-athletes face, the Vic Pruden Basketball Bursary Fund has been established to support two graduating players each year as they continue their academic and athletic journeys.