Ontario Basketball names new Executive Director

WHITBY, ON (June 15, 2022) – The Board of Directors of the Ontario Basketball Association have unanimously appointed Dave Stockton, an experienced sports manager, to lead the association and grow the sport throughout Ontario, OBA President John Rocchi announced Wednesday.

“Mr. Stockton has played and coached basketball his entire life and displays his passion for the game. But his management skills and specific experience as a modern sports leader with a demonstrated ability to grow the sport, to mould and develop people into functioning teams and to work with a diverse group of stakeholders to achieve mutually beneficial goals are the reasons he clearly stood apart from many other candidates,” Rocchi said in announcing the appointment.

“Like most sports organizations, the pandemic has seriously curtailed our activities and our growth strategy over the last three years. We were extremely fortunate that a former member of our board and a man well-known throughout the basketball community in Ontario offered to step in to manage our association in the interim. The Board of Directors is extremely appreciative of Claude Nembhard’s lifelong commitment to basketball in Ontario and to our association.

“As we move forward, the importance of our mission supersedes the sport itself. Ontario needs access to basketball throughout the province. It is the fastest growing sport in our province because of its accessibility to people across all social strata. It has led and will continue to lead organized sports in the critically important area of diversity, an issue of strategic importance to our association. Our mission is to ensure that all children and would-be basketball players throughout Ontario, have access to the benefits and social development advantages basketball offers,” the OBA President added.

Rocchi’s enthusiasm is shared by OBA’s newly named Executive Director. “I am very excited by this challenge not only because I love the game of basketball but also because I am an ardent believer in the mission and values of the OBA. I played basketball as a kid and I have coached my kid’s teams since they started playing,” Stockton, a fully trained NCCP Level 3 coach, said. “I look forward to helping OBA achieve their ambitious growth objectives to ensure organized basketball, with all of its advantages, is available in all communities throughout Ontario.

“People tend to think of basketball as merely a sport. I believe basketball is a tool to teach children valuable life skills and social values such as teamwork, respect, perseverance, and responsibility. Other benefits such as physical fitness, sportspersonship and the many other social aspects of the game can help us all to lead more productive lives. I believe our sport offers the opportunity to bring together athletes, coaches, parents and administrators from many social, ethnic, economic, and religious backgrounds and I am very proud to be part of an organization that places equity, diversity, and inclusion so strategically in its mission,” Stockton said.

After relaxation of restrictions from the Covid-19 pandemic, the Board of Directors of OBA identified the need for a new business strategy and initiated a search for a new Executive Director to help return the association to a position of aggressive growth and expansion.

“We were seeking a modern sports leader who understood the sports management model, who had a track record of success in sports organization management and who could thrive in a not-for-profit multi-stakeholder environment. In Mr. Stockton we have found such a leader. He has a bachelor’s degree with honours in Sports Management from Brock University and a Master of Science Degree in Sports Administration from Canisius College in Buffalo, N.Y. Professionally he has more than 20 years of expertise in sports management from both the private sector and not-for-profit environments, along with a proven track record,” the OBA President said.

The Ontario Basketball Association is the province-wide grouping of community basketball associations, leagues, teams, officials, coaches, and sponsors within the basketball community. Working with more than 14 governmental, private sector, institutional and not-for-profit organizations, OBA develops, promotes, supports, and facilitates the sport of basketball across Ontario through the provision of programs and services. It is Ontario’s representative to Canada Basketball, the national grouping of provincial basketball organizations across Canada and the co-coordinator of national basketball teams and programs.

Dave begins with OBA effective June 15, 2022 and can be reached at dstockton@basketball.on.ca or (416) 477-8075 ext. 202.

For more information, please contact:

John Rocchi
President, OBA Board of Directors
jrocchi@basketball.on.ca