Coaching is in Christa Eniojukan's blood.
The York University Lions women's basketball head coach has been coaching youth teams and student-athletes for more than a decade, most notably with Ontario's U17 provincial team from 2014-17.
Earlier this month, the former Lion guard (2003-05), who has won six national medals, including four gold. earned a silver earlier this month as the head coach of Canada's women's team at the second annual GLOBL Jam, a tournament featuring some of the best U-23 talent in the world. The Lions bench boss, entering her third season at the helm in 2023-24, is very appreciative of the opportunity afforded to her by Canada Basketball.
"Coaching internationally is the highest level you can possibly coach," Eniojukan said. "So, being able to be around the top student-athletes and compete against international competition really elevated me personally as the head coach and our entire staff."
The Guelph, Ont. native knows the importance of continually developing, honing and evolving on her skills as a coach. Eniojukan says this job allowed her to do all those things as she prepares to guide the newest iteration of the Lions come the fall.
"It's super valuable for me to learn and grow," she said of the opportunity to coach during the OUA off-season. "I grew a lot this summer. It was a short period of time, but you're challenged at the highest level, and you have some of the best coaches in the country coming together to collaborate with you.
"So, I feel more confident going into this season to bring back some of the skills that I've learned, and I'm super excited for the York season to be able to hone in on some of those skills and bring them back here."
The 2004-05 Lions MVP believes tournaments such as GLOBL Jam and other international competitions play a pivotal role in growing the women's game globally.
"Tournaments like this are instrumental," said Eniojukan. "The number of young women and girls and their teams that came out to support us, and the number of people who have come up to me and said, 'hey, I saw you on TV,' it's just heartwarming.
"Growing up, it was very rare for me to see women competing on TV," Eniojukan continued. "Now, for girls to see our own national team student-athletes being represented on TV, and for them to see these young girls playing and myself and my other staff coaching is amazing. It's about representation, and if you can't see it you can't be it, and everyone at Sportsnet and Canada Basketball did a fantastic job."
As for the future of the event, Eniojukan believes it is very bright, and says she's "looking forward to see GLOBL Jam next year and for years to come, and continue to support it in its entirety."
Eniojukan and the Lions kick off their 2023-24 season on Nov. 3 when they welcome the Waterloo Warriors to Tait McKenzie Centre for a 6:00 pm tip.
