Dany ‘Rip’ Charlery was born and raised in Saint Lucia, but he moved to Canada in 1995 as a teenager. There, he discovered basketball.
Basketball would get Dany into university, specifically Brandon University, where he quickly made a name for himself as one of the top players, not just on the Bobcats, but in Canada. A dynamic two-way wing, Dany was second team All Canadian in 2009, a Canadian All Star in 2007, and a five-time Canada West All-Star.
Dany’s sobriquet is borrowed from that of former Detroit Piston swingman, Richard Hamilton. He (Dany, not Hamilton) still holds the record for most games started in the Canada West conference, and he is second in career steals, third in steals per game and sixth in points scored.
Dany earned his Bachelor of Distributed Arts degree with a Minor in Business Administration and a Minor in French from Brandon University (Brandon, MB 2010), as well as a degree in Building Systems Engineering Technology (DEC) from Vanier College in 2005.
Now, the young man from MoPo is a coach at Quest University in Squamish, British Columbia. After serving as an assistant coach with the men's and women's teams, he was promoted to head coach of the Lady Kermodes. And he's again making a name for himself, earning the title of 2015 PACWEST Women's Basketball Coach of the Year.
We spoke to Dany at length about his journey, and what he thinks he can bring to Saint Lucian basketball, and especially the women's game.
Where are you from in Saint Lucia? How did you end up in Canada? -
I was born in Mon-Repos, lived in La-Pointe for an extended period of time and then Micoud for a few years before moving to Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
I moved to Montreal the year I would have started my high school career. I do remember having passed my entrance exams to attend secondary school, specifically Micoud Secondary. It was one of the best days of my life back then, and still is, based on the memory. My sister Nella Charlery, was already one year into her high school years, and I was overwhelmed with excitement and couldn’t wait to join her.
What are your earliest and / or most vivid memories of being involved in sports growing up, either involving you directly or just events you may have heard of or witnessed? -
As far as my earliest and most vivid memories involved in sports growing up in Saint Lucia, I can remember a few. I remember running track and field, 100m, 400m, 800m; relay, long jump, high jump, and I think that’s about it, while I was in Primary School.
Football (Soccer) was my first love, although I never played on any organized teams, I also played some cricket in the playgrounds.
My most vivid memory that I can remember, from playing basketball in Saint Lucia, I think I was 12 maybe. A bunch of us were playing on the outdoor basketball court on the Micoud Primary School grounds, I remember the competition was pretty intense, not sure if it was 1 on 1, 3 on 3, 5 on 5, but I remember jumping either for a rebound or to score, but somehow, someone took my legs out unintentionally.
I remember falling so hard that my skin peeled off to the bone, where I was able to see white flesh, which immediately started bleeding. It was terribly painful, but from my memories, I think that may have been one of the last times I played basketball before moving to Canada!
But I do remember being very fast, with the ability to jump fairly high at the time. I was maybe 130lbs +/-, skinny little guy.
What were the circumstances that led to you leaving Saint Lucia, and at what age did you migrate? -
My mom had moved to Montreal while I was a youngster living with my dad in La-Pointe. She initially moved for work and to get an education herself, with goals of giving my sister and myself the same opportunities.
I was 13 going on 14 years of age when I migrated to Canada with my sister. My sister is exactly 1 year older than I.
You got into organized basketball fairly late - how did that happen in the first place? -
After arriving in Montreal, I remember quickly getting into football, but was unable to play football as much as I wanted during the winter, so I started playing basketball shortly after, and really enjoyed it.
I was competing on the playgrounds during the summer, almost everyday, which got me in a large amount of trouble with my mom, in addition to playground fights and intense competitions.
All I knew at the time was to do what it took to win without hurting anyone, both offensively and defensively. I had multiple older and wiser players give me tips and teach me things that I would work on late, after everyone had left the playgrounds.
At the age of 16, I was in P.E class shooting a basketball, when the current high school basketball coach at the time approached me, and asked if I would be interested in trying out for the basketball team.
Sure enough after thinking about it for a while and being encouraged to do so, I tried out, made the team and blossomed from there, getting recognition, yet I was unknown in the basketball community in Montreal at the time.
One thing lead to another, more schooling, more basketball, had an amazing career at Brandon University in Brandon, Manitoba, Canada. I played at Brandon University from 2005 to 2010, and then got into Coaching later on in 2010, which I had never envisioned.
Eventually you not only went to school on a sports scholarship, but you were and remain one of the most storied players in CIS history - how did that come about? -
I wasn’t one of these athletes who was looking for scholarships or looking to go play pro, yet at the same time, I was not educated about these opportunities at the time, so I may have missed out on a different path.
After graduating from Vanier College where I graduated with a College Degree in Building Systems Engineering Technology (HVAC&R), I had a few options for Division 2 basketball in the United States. I had my mind set on attending Post University in Waterbury, Connecticut, but unfortunately I decided to not play basketball my last year of College, so my scholarship offer was withdrawn.
Nonetheless, after graduating from Vanier, I was planning on attending University, then one day I got a phone call from the coach at Brandon University, out of the blue, offering me a student athlete scholarship to attend Brandon and be part of the basketball team.
Still today I am not entirely sure who or how the coach received my contact info, but I think I have an idea who played the role of getting the coach to reach out.
My basketball career was filled with great team and individual accomplishments. Team-wise, we made the playoffs every year, we also made the CIS Finals in my second year with Brandon.
I got multiple awards during my career. My greatest award, though, was on the court. And the record still stands. “The Most Games Started in Canada West conference history, 106.”
The secret: “Stretch a lot a lot a lot, stay hydrated and think positive” while also taking care of your body, lift weights based on your body type and position, watch what you eat and drink.
My goal was to get my University Degree, but I had no idea that I would have such an impact on the court like I did.
What was the university experience like for you on and off the court, coming from a small island and a small community?-
First off, simply moving to Canada was an all around shock to me.
Culturally, emotionally, environmentally, and more, things were very different. I was in the midst of discovering and figuring out who I was and wanted to be at the time, but had to re-evaluate, and almost start all over.
I can’t thank my mom enough for the opportunity she game me and my sister, her leadership, trust and encouragement throughout these adjustments and still today, she fully supports me.
My University experience was amazing, and I would encourage everyone to experience University life, although I was a late bloomer per se during my university career.
Off the court, being in a little town like Brandon, reminded me of the small towns of Saint Lucia where everyone knew everyone in some form.
Although being a young black man, surrounded by majority of white folks, I still had friends and teammates from the Caribbean; such as Haiti, Jamaica, Trinidad, Guyana, Guadeloupe, St Vincent and the Grenadines.
On the court, fans loved my passion for the game and competition, they always remember me, and thank me for showing my passion and giving me all.
My ability was to amaze people and keep them on the edge of their seats, because no one knew what I was going to with the ball, since I was fairly creative. Basketball was an avenue for me to get away mentally, clear my head and express myself with the basketball.
Football was my first love and still is, but at the time I didn’t know how much sports meant to me. Having experienced the recognition that I did throughout my high school and university career, sports and academics started to have a meaning in my life and forming me into being who I have become today.
I am still educating myself through sports and academia, with goals of getting my Masters in Sports Administration/Management. The biggest differences coming from a small island were the multi-cultural atmosphere, environment, climate and the massive variety of mindsets between people; which gave me an appreciation for so many things and opened my eyes in so many different ways, but I love my country, my small island.
Did you ever wish you could have the opportunity to play for Saint Lucia at the international level? -
Throughout my basketball career in University and even now in my coaching career, I was asked and I’m still being asked to find out if Saint Lucia has a National Team so that I can play for them or even get involved in the coaching side of things.
I would have loved and would love to play for Saint Lucia on the international stage. Just the experience to represent and give my all alongside individuals who share the same goals and vision would be priceless.
I wish the opportunity presented itself back then, because I would have grabbed it immediately. I would love to be a part of Saint Lucia basketball in the future.
Subsequent to your playing days, you've gotten into coaching; was that something you had been targeting from your time at school, or was it just that opportunities arose, or destiny, as some would say? -
Coaching was never a field I envisioned or targeted; in fact, I had never coached before, until after my University playing days in 2010.
I was always a calm, smiley and open teammate, which attracted attention from fans, teammates and kids into asking me advice and talking to me about basketball. Being one of the best on the majority of teams that I have been a part of, I was always asked for tips and advice from teammates. I quickly because a link between players and coaches, in the sense that my teammates wanted me to get our coaches to let them play more, give them opportunities to show what they are capable of doing, etc.
I think my path into coaching involved opportunity, luck, friendship, networking, positivity, and some destiny I guess. It started way before my university career, but, in the third year playing at Brandon, I had an assistant coach who pushed me as far as he could in making me the best I could be within that frame of time that he was around.
I worked with him on the court, in the weight room, and in the classroom. He was so passionate about coaching, that he wanted to share his vision of how good a basketball player should be with me, by teaching me all he could. Basketball came easy to me, but that year (2007), I understood what it meant to people who worked harder than me to succeed on the court, by working their butts off, so started putting in more work.
Nonetheless, that assistant (M.Woollard), always kept in touch with me throughout my career after 2007, and in 2010 he became the Head Coach of the Women’s Basketball team at Quest University Canada.
After I graduated, he reached out to me while I was in Montreal and simply asked me if I would be interested in being his Assistant Coach at Quest. It took me maybe two days to say sure, I will help you coach.
He knew I had never coached before, but he must have seen something in me that would benefit his program. He knew I had never coached before but he convinced me that I would be a natural. In October 2010, I joined his coaching staff, and also worked full-time with Facilities at Quest within the Maintenance Department, where my Engineering degree came in very handy.
After being an Assistant for two seasons, including a year where a doubled up with the Men’s program, Coach Woollard moved on to another Institution to coach. During the search for a new coach, I was asked by many to take the opportunity; including the returning players.
This was a new challenge for me, and the opportunity to be in a position I have never thought of, yet people saw the potential in me. After weeks of considering the opportunity and waiting for the position to get posted, I applied, got interviewed, and here I am three seasons later.
During that time, the program has been to the playoffs all three seasons, winning two of three Division Championships, and being the first team in Quest history to ever win a Championship, in fact two championships, in it’s young eight years of existence.
I am enjoying it, still undecided as to whether or not I would like to make it a career, but with the success that we’ve been having, one would say that it’s an easy decision to continue coaching. Still up in the air, but I love being around sports, if I decide not to coach, I would love to stay within the sports environment.
You have had a very good run at Quest, doing great work to develop that team. It must have been very gratifying to see the growth take place. What would you identify as the key elements of your coaching philosophy that led to your success? -
Yes I have been very fortunate to be surrounded by players and coaching staff, with similar goals and passion for the game and coaching, which makes achieving success on the winning side easier, which is what most people look at in order to measure someone’s success.
I teach what I know, and relate it my past and experiences growing up, from a youngster in Saint Lucia to my success as a player at Brandon.
The growth and accomplishments have been extremely gratifying but we try to stay humble regardless. My coaching philosophy is very simple; teach what you know, keep it fun, keep it creative, allow growth by making poor decisions, trust your instincts, learn on the fly and continuous coach development, so that I can share with my players and coaching staff.
I stay in touch with the game by playing at a competitive level, playing in practice with my players, and watching basketball games of all levels. I consider myself a Players Coach; because of my playing experience, I feel I am able to communicate with players based on the moments and emotions that they’re going through. I try to remember my experience as a player and relate that to them, yet still stay open to having them try things the way they can visualize, then find that balance to do the best action when it arises.
I teach players as much as I can, I give them all the energy I can possibly give them, on and off the court, I treat them as adults because they are, and I listen to them. I do things mutually within the entire team, to make the best decisions, yet still leaving room to make the final decision.
So far, it’s been great, and I hope to continue that way.
Where do you see the principal opportunities and challenges for you as a young head coach? -
Lately more opportunities have been presenting itself and the encouragement from other coaches and close friends and family, even fans, are encouraging me to stay open to opportunities and challenges.
Initially the biggest challenge for me starting out as a new coach with limited coaching experience, and banking on just my playing experience, was the fact that I didn’t think I was ready for that role. I didn’t think I had enough experience and the knowledge to be a coach, partly because I had never considered coaching as a career.
So many challenges are involved within the coaching environment. Quest is such a unique University, the first of its kind in Canada, and the extra challenges it brings. It’s a private Arts and Science University, where the cost is just simply out of reach for so many athletes. This makes recruiting so hard and challenging because I have to find the right student athlete academically, who would love the uniqueness and curriculum of Quest, yet have the budget to attend Quest under some form of scholarship, but, still bring something special to our basketball team, in order to stay competitive.
Some other challenges involve, coaching the right way with the group of athletes we have, putting them in situations to succeed with minimal supervision and advice from my coaching staff and myself, relating to their issues on and off the court, teaching them life skills, keeping them engaged, reminding them that basketball is temporary, teaching them how to enjoy the camaraderie of the game and it appreciation, being honest with them yet motivating them as well, giving them confidence and my all so that it’s easy for them to compete with and for each other, and the list goes on.
But the key is for them to relate on court experience with off court experience.
You’ve just completed a brilliant unbeaten season. What are your expectations for next year? -
This past season (2014-15) our program went undefeated (23-0) won our second straight Division Championship, and placed sixth at the National Level. Therefore we’ve set a bar that will be hard to get over for the 2015-16 season. I don’t set expectations until I have recruited my full roster, thereafter, I can start visualizing and preparing. We do have basic core expectations and standards in order to continue with the culture that we’ve created here the last three seasons.
How excited would you be to recruit and develop a young player from Saint Lucia? -
I would love to recruit and develop a young female player from Saint Lucia or any young player from Saint Lucia for that matter.
Although I think it will sometimes get the best of me emotionally and instill an urgency to make them the best I can possibly make them, but I would embrace the opportunity fully.
I almost had the opportunity to coach a young lady who was part Saint Lucian and part Haitian, but unfortunately it did not work out. We still keep in touch regardless.
Have you had much interaction with the local (Saint Lucian) basketball association and / or the Ministry of Youth Development and Sports, perhaps with a view towards encouraging young women to play basketball? -
I haven’t had any interaction Saint Lucia Basketball or any youth organization for that matter. I would love a chance to share my experience with people who want to hear it or want the opportunity to do something that many others will never get the opportunity to experience.
Nonetheless, it’s an interaction, connection and relationship I would love to start. Not for only young women to play basketball but for both women and men in all sports.
The opportunities for scholarships are endless in the USA and Canada. The resources are needed to allow these young individuals to follow and achieve their dreams.
How would you advise local clubs, coaches, the Ministry or the local association on how best to develop the game of basketball among young women in the hopes of following in your footsteps one day? -
I’m not sure how I would advise about this, but I wouldn’t mind tell my story. I think if these clubs, coaches and the Ministry of Sports would invest in having the resources available and encouraging young people to reach out and try new things, see the world, and help them see the world, then they don’t only have to follow my footsteps, but create their own and continue paving that path and accessibility to the up and coming classes.
Reaching out to those who have gotten these opportunities and help as well will make this easier as well.
Do you see any obstacles preventing women's basketball from developing in Saint Lucia? -
The main obstacles I can think of, even here in Canada and around the town (Squamish, BC) where I coach, is interest from student athletes. If the interested is limited, then it is hard to start something, but starting with one and building up from word of mouth, will also work.
Other obstacles are coaches and their availability, equipment, money, gear, so many things.
I think if we can get the support for parents first, then organizations, and the ministry and so on, kids will engage in participation.
With that, we can push to the limits. As football and cricket being the top sports in Saint Lucia, I still believe basketball has its place, we simply need to get it started and give it a few years to get rolling into a successful trend.
Regardless, I think it’s something we need to do as a country and I would love to help in any way I can.
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