The CMU Women's Basketball program has announced that Patrick Sumugat has been named the successor to head coach Sharlene Harding, who is leaving her post after two years with the program.
Sumugat assumes the role after already being involved with the team this past season as an assistant tasked with player development, and brings with him a wealth of experience at both the high school and club level in Manitoba, as well as in training high-level competitive athletes. The founder and head coach of Relentless Club Basketball, Sumugat also draws on his experience coaching the varsity girls program at Kildonan East Collegiate, and as the lead basketball skills trainer at Bout to Be Different (BTBD) Hoops in stepping up to the collegiate level head coaching role at CMU. Certified as a USA Basketball Youth Development Coach since 2023, Sumugat has quickly risen in the ranks of coaches in Winnipeg, building the connections necessary to recruit and continue to build the Blazers' program. His ties to the Filipino-Canadian community, including as head coach of the Basketball Federation of the Philippines (Canada) U16 girls team will also be a valuable connection in furthering the program's goals, in both bringing in and developing top local talent.
"Coach P has an undeniable passion for player development and proven success leading female athletes and teams at the local high school and club level," notes CMU Director of Athletics, Russell Willms. "The athletes here who have worked with Coach P can attest to his quality in these areas and we look forward to this new era of Blazers basketball under Coach P's influence."
Sumugat steps in as head coach as a new era of MCAC basketball is about to unfold. For the first time since the 2019/20 season, the Red River Rebels will be back in the league, bringing the conference up to four teams in basketball, also making the conference eligible for inclusion at the CCAA level for the first time, which the MCAC hopes to apply for this summer. If all goes to plan, this will create a pathway for the provincial champion to compete at a CCAA National Championships for the first time in basketball in the coming years.
Source: https://blazers.cmu.ca/a-new-era-of-blazers-basketball-begins-under-head-coach-patrick-sumugat