Basketball Manitoba has announced that longtime Manitoba basketball coach and educator Colin Mark (pictured above right with his Junior High Basketball Championship team) will be recognized by Sport Manitoba as part of its 2025 Night of Champions awards.
Colin is being honoured for his outstanding contribution to amateur sport through a lifetime of dedication to basketball, coaching, mentorship, and community leadership. Sport Manitoba’s annual Night of Champions celebrates the top athlete, team, coach, official, and volunteer of the year while recognizing the highest amateur sport achievements by Manitobans in 2025.
A lifelong educator and coach, Mark has dedicated 39 years to developing basketball in Manitoba. Since 1986 at Sergeant Park School, he has coached primarily junior high girls' basketball while building a values-based program centred on inclusion, mentorship, and excellence. His influence has extended far beyond the court and into generations of athletes, coaches, and officials across the province.
Over nearly four decades, Mark has built more than successful teams. He has helped create a culture where young people can grow, contribute, and feel a strong sense of belonging. His leadership is reflected in the many former players who later returned to coach, helping sustain a program rooted in continuity, mentorship, and community.
His impact has also extended into the broader school sport environment. Mark created opportunities such as a scorekeeper training program to ensure more students could be involved in the game, while his collaborative work across multiple sports helped establish Sergeant Park School as a strong model for both athletic excellence and positive community values.
His longstanding commitment is reflected in more than 39 years of service and an estimated 17,000-plus volunteer hours dedicated to coaching, mentorship, and program development. In 2025, Basketball Manitoba recognized Mark with the Mike Spack Lifetime Achievement Award, honouring his extraordinary commitment to the sport. He was also previously named Coach of the Year on four separate occasions in 1989-90, 1995-96, 2000-01, and 2001-02.
Sport Manitoba’s Night of Champions ceremony will take place on April 16, 2026, at the Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame. The invite-only event brings together award winners along with their families and friends to celebrate excellence in amateur sport. Each award recipient will receive a bursary to support their continued involvement in sport, and a commemorative banner featuring their name and award will be displayed at the Sport Manitoba facility.
Basketball Manitoba congratulates Colin Mark on this well-deserved recognition and thanks him for the lasting impact he has made on the game in Manitoba. His leadership, mentorship, and service continue to shape the basketball community and inspire future generations!
Source: https://www.sportmanitoba.ca/news/2026-night-of-champions-award-winners