Lexie Sananes named lead assistant coach of Lion’s women’s basketball

The York University Lions announced April 30 that Lexie Sananes has been named lead assistant coach of the women’s basketball team.

Lexie Sananes
Lexie Sananes

Sananes, who has served as an assistant coach in a part-time capacity with the Lions since 2012, becomes the first full-time lead assistant coach in the history of the women’s basketball program.

“I am ecstatic to be able to hire Lexie as our lead assistant coach in a full-time capacity here at York,” said Erin McAleenan, head coach of the women’s basketball team. “She is an experienced coach who is committed to her own personal growth and development as well as an unparalleled passion and commitment to help York succeed. Lexie’s involvement coaching at the provincial level, as well as her experience as a head coach in the Ontario Scholastic Basketball Association (OSBA), is very valuable to us. Lexie is well-known for building strong relationships with her players which will be a big help towards our recruiting efforts. I know that Lexie will make an immediate impact to our program as our first full-time assistant coach.”

In addition to her assistant coaching role with the Lions, Sananes has a wealth of experience that includes head coaching roles with the Team Ontario U17 team and with the Redmond Basketball Academy in the OSBA. She has also served as an assistant coach with Team Ontario’s U17 and U15 programs and with Bill Crothers Secondary School in the OSBA. Sananes is also a well-educated coach, having earned NCCP certifications in Learn to Train, Train to Train and Train to Compete.

“I am humbled and honoured to be named the first lead assistant in the history of the York women’s basketball program and I’m looking forward to continuing to learn and grow under Coach McAleenan’s leadership,” said Sananes. “The team and culture we’ve built since Erin arrived at York has me excited to begin working more closely on a full-time basis with our student-athletes.”

As a player, Sananes was a forward with the Advantage Titans of the JUEL league for two seasons before suiting up for the Lions for two seasons from 2010-12. Sananes will make her debut as lead assistant coach with the Lions when the team tips off their season in October.