Today on the Basketball Manitoba Podcast, we have Jon Giesbrecht, a coach who’s built a career around player development, the mental game, and helping athletes play free.

He started coaching at 15 when he stepped in to coach his younger brother’s team, and he hasn’t stopped since then.

He’s coached many of those same players to a JV provincial championship and an undefeated Grade 12 season at John Taylor Collegiate, where he was the co-coach of the program, with many players going on to play university basketball.

He has coached at the provincial team level, winning a gold medal as an assistant with the U17 boys team. He’s also worked with Canada Basketball as a video coordinator for the Canadian Junior Men’s National Team.

He’s coached at the University of Winnipeg and the University of Manitoba, including two seasons as a full-time assistant coach with the University of Regina women’s program.

He moved on from the college level and went on to coach prep in Italy as the director of mental performance.

The last two seasons, he was with the Vancouver Bandits as Director of Mental Skills & Performance.

He also runs a private practice called “Play Free”, where he teaches athletes how to handle pressure, regulate emotions, and perform when it matters.

Today on the Basketball Manitoba Podcast, we have Vic Pruden.

Vic Pruden’s influence on basketball in Manitoba spans more than seven decades. He began coaching in 1957, winning a provincial championship, and went on to build championship programs at the high school, university, provincial, and national levels. He was instrumental in establishing both the men’s and women’s intercollegiate basketball programs at the University of Winnipeg, guiding the women’s team to multiple conference titles and national finalist appearances, while also contributing to the development of Canada’s national junior program.

Beyond the wins, Vic helped shape the foundation of the game in Manitoba. He founded major events such as the Fort Garry Invitational and the Golden Boy Invitational (now known as the Wesmen Classic), launched influential summer camps, served as the first president of the Manitoba Basketball Coaches Association, and authored A Conceptual Approach to Basketball. His impact has been recognized with induction into both the Manitoba Basketball Hall of Fame and the Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame.

In recognition of his lifelong commitment to the game and his understanding of the financial challenges student-athletes face, the Vic Pruden Basketball Bursary Fund has been established to support two graduating players each year as they continue their academic and athletic journeys.

Today on the Basketball Manitoba Podcast, we have Kerri Kuzbyt.

Kerri is the Head of Player Development for the Scottish Basketball Federation and a Clinician for the Transforming Basketball program, which focuses on coach education in modern approaches to basketball.

She is known globally for her evidence-based approach to skill acquisition and her work in reshaping female basketball culture through long-term development and effective learning environments.

A former number one-ranked female player in Manitoba out of Sisler High School, Kerri played five seasons with the University of Winnipeg Wesmen. She earned Female Rookie of the Year honours, served as a three-year co-captain, won a Canada West regular-season title, and graduated as an Academic All-Canadian with degrees in Kinesiology and Psychology through the Department of Education

Kerri also played professionally in Australia, Spain, and Germany, winning a league title in the 2nd Bundesliga, before transitioning into player development. She has since led female development at Atlas Basketball and Unbounded Athletes, and continues to give back through Provincial Team, club, and grassroots programs.