New coaches, player announced by Voyageurs

Laurentian Athletics and men's basketball coach Shawn Swords announced that Mark Ramalho has committed to the Voyageurs basketball program starting in the fall. The Brampton, Ont. native will be enrolling in the Concurrent Education program with his undergraduate program being Sport and Physical Education.

"I am really excited about playing under the guidance of a former national team player," said Ramalho.

Ramalho is a six-foot-two-inch 160-pound guard that can play both the point and shooting guard spots.

While attending St. Augustine Secondary School, he was a multi-sport athlete having played on both the volleyball and basketball teams while being named captain of the senior boy's basketball for the past two seasons and volleyball team this past season.

"Mark is a young player that works hard and has a high basketball IQ. He reads the game well and will be a great addition to the program," said head coach Shawn Swords.

Ramalho will join other Voyageur rookies and veterans when training camp opens on Sept. 5 at the Ben Avery Gym. He will get his first taste of OUA competition when the Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks visit the Ben Avery Gym for exhibition action on Oct. 12.

In related news, the team also announced Mark Bennett, Cory Bailey, Aaron Sidenberg and Ken Wallenius as the teams' assistant coaches for 2007-08.

Bailey returns to the blue and gold after finishing his playing career with the team in 1998. He is a three-time OUA first-team all-star (1995-96, 1996-97 & 1997-98). In 1995-96, Bailey was also named a CIAU second-team all-Canadian. At the university level he earned the Voyageur award in his final season with the team.

Bennett played from 1974 to 1979. He was part of two number one-ranked Voyageurs teams, making the trip to the CIAU national championships three times. Most recently he has been the coach of the Lo-Ellen Park Secondary School senior boy's team for the past seven seasons.

Sidenberg will be returning for his third full season as an assistant coach with the Voyageurs having worked with the team for the previous two seasons under former coach Virgil Hill. Wallenius enters his first full season as an assistant coach with the Voyageurs men's basketball program having worked with the team for part of the season in 2006-07.