Greg Francis facts for kids
| Biographical details | |
|---|---|
| Born | April 4, 1974 Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
| Died | April 3, 2023 (aged 48) |
| Playing career | |
| 1994–1997 | Fairfield |
| Position(s) | Guard |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
| 2005–2011 | Canadian Junior National Team |
| 2009–2012 | Alberta Golden Bears |
| 2012–2015 | Waterloo Warriors |
| 2015– | Canada Basketball Technical Director |
| 2018–2022 | Ontario Tech Ridgebacks |
| Accomplishments and honors | |
| Awards | |
| As player: Fairfield Hall of Fame (2003) MAAC tournament MVP (1997) Second-team All-MAAC (1996) |
|
Greg Francis (born April 4, 1974 – died April 3, 2023) was a Canadian basketball player and coach who played in the Olympic Games. He worked as the Director of Sport Development for Ontario Basketball. He was also the manager for Men's High-Performance at Canada Basketball.
Greg Francis was a head coach for several university teams, including the UOIT Ridgebacks, the University of Waterloo Warriors, and the Alberta Golden Bears. He also coached the Canadian junior men’s national team and was an assistant coach for the senior men's national team.
As a player, Francis was part of the Canadian National men's basketball team. This team finished seventh at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia. They also placed fourth at the 2003 Tournament of the Americas.
Greg Francis passed away on April 3, 2023, just one day before his 49th birthday.
Greg Francis: A Basketball Star
College Days
Greg Francis played basketball for Fairfield University from 1994 to 1997. He scored a total of 1,570 points during his college career. This made him the fifth-highest scorer in the school's history. He also holds the school record for making 230 three-point field goal shots.
In his final year, Francis helped his team, the Stags, win the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference title. This win led them to play in the 1997 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament.
During the first round of the tournament, Francis almost helped his team beat the powerful North Carolina Tar Heels. He scored 26 points, including eight three-pointers, in that game. After the game, North Carolina's coach, Dean Smith, praised Francis's amazing performance.
In 2003, Fairfield University honored Greg Francis by adding him to their Athletic Hall of Fame. This recognized his great achievements in college basketball.
Playing Professionally
After college, Greg Francis played professional basketball in the British Basketball League. He played for the Worthing Bears during the 1997–98 season. He was even chosen for the UK All-Star Team that year. Later, he played for the Chester Jets during the 1999–00 season.
See also
In Spanish: Greg Francis para niños
