Robbie Valpreda Named Head Coach of Men's Basketball Program

EDMONTON, AB – The Thunder Athletics Department is pleased to announce Robbie Valpreda as the next Head Coach of the Men’s Basketball program. Valpreda brings a large amount of experience both as an ACAC head coach, and with Concordia University of Edmonton (CUE), leading the CUE Women’s Basketball program since the 2013-14 season. 

Throughout his coaching career, Valpreda is a two-time ACAC Coach of the Year with CUE Women’s Basketball, winning the award during the 2016-17 and 2022-23 seasons. He currently holds the record for most wins by a head coach of Concordia Women’s Basketball with 114.

As a player, Valpreda has experience at both the ACAC and U-Sport levels. At MacEwan University, he led the Griffins to two ACAC Championships as well as silver and bronze medals at the CCAA national level. He was an ACAC All-Conference player three times, as well as a CCAA All-Canadian and National Player of the Year. As a member of the Alberta Golden Bears Men’s Basketball team from 2001-03, Valpreda won Canada West MVP, was an U-Sports All-Canadian, and won a National Championship in 2001-02. In 2024, he was inducted into the ACAC Hall of Fame for his contributions as a player at MacEwan.

“"I am thankful and looking forward to the new journey in my coaching career”, Valpreda commented. “It is reassuring to begin this next chapter with a familiar place in CUE athletics".

Coach Valpreda will now take the lead of a CUE men’s basketball program coming off a 10-10 record last season, good for fourth in the ACAC North Division standings. With a strong group of returning players, look for this team to take another step forward in the 2024-25 season.