Coleman leaving legacy of hard work as he heads into final games of university career
Jefferson Hagen / MacEwan Athletics
EDMONTON – There are all kinds of important leaders on sports teams.
The big booming voice of motivation in the room.
The sportsman on the court.
The planner off of it.
The intense, gritty, leave-it-all on the floor guy.
Ryan Coleman is clearly in the latter camp. And that will be the legacy the graduating senior leaves after he plays his final games in a MacEwan Griffins uniform this weekend when they host the Trinity Western Spartans (Friday, 8 p.m.; Saturday, 7 p.m., Atkinson Gym).
The Edmontonian wants to leave his teammates with his example.
"One thing that I definitely can say that I want them to know: one, I truly love them. Also, I want what's best for them," he said. "Second, that actions speak louder than words. Every practice I'd show up. I don't really say much, I just let my actions do the speaking. Every time I step on the floor, I'm out there giving everything I've got – whatever it is – rebounding, scoring, diving for loose balls.
"I let my actions do the talking and I want that to continue to be the culture and to bring that intensity back here at this school."
Coleman certainly leaves it all on the floor for the Griffins – the true blue collar worker in the tough areas that all successful basketball players have.
"Ryan, throughout his career, has been one of those guys where you know what you're going to get from him every night and every single practice," said Griffins head coach Eric Magdanz. "He's an extremely hard worker, he's extremely dedicated to the team and he comes and fills whatever role we ask of him."
There have been nights where Coleman's been the Griffins' best player. Others, he's been a key cog inside against the opposition's toughest post players. He brings the intensity and others follow.
"From a physical standpoint, I feel I've developed pretty well in stature, I feel like my confidence boosted up," said Coleman who would like to play professionally one day. "I feel like I've been able to be a leader, I've been able to keep a consistent energy. I've always been a very passionate player throughout my career and I've been able to keep that throughout my time here."
Coleman credits Jasper Place high school coach Rick Stanley with pushing him to develop that intensity and his parents, Brad and Gina Coleman, for being the "catalyst" of his career.
He started his post-secondary journey with the Griffins in 2010, but played just half a season, eventually resurfacing on the Concordia Thunder roster in 2014-15, where he led the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference in rebounding and was second in scoring.
Magdanz came calling a year later and Coleman signed on again with the Griffins, where he's spent the past three seasons. He's been a steady contributor, averaging the highest points output of his Canada West career this season with 9.4 per game, adding 4.0 rebounds.
"We've just seen growth in his game and his understanding in all the different ways he has the ability to contribute on the floor," said Magdanz. "We've really seen him grow as a leader, especially this year being our only fifth-year. He's really stepped up to be more vocal and to lead as much with his voice as he leads by example."
Coleman's favourite memory of his career was when MacEwan battled cross-town rival Alberta in the 2015-16 playoffs – a best-of-three series which went the distance and was decided on a late Game 3 basket in favour of the Golden Bears.
"It was the first time that we ever met, so I think it was a pretty historic night for this school and for basketball in Edmonton," he said. "We were able to take them the distance. People didn't think we were a legitimate Canada West school and people saw what we truly could be capable of in the near future."
And that's what this weekend's play will be about for the young Griffins who can't catch a playoff spot this season, but continue to lay down building blocks in the foundation.
"We've been pretty clear this entire year that this is a year of growth for us and I think we've accomplished a lot of those goals, but it's icing on the cake for us to go out with a bang here," said Magdanz. "As much as that means wins, that means us committed to executing the small details offensively and defensively that will continue to make us successful in the future."
