By Lisa Parent

Rattlers basketball alumnus now leading his own collegiate team

Aug 18, 2023 | 9:46 AM

OLDS, AB – Along with many other collegiate sports, the Rattlers basketball season is on its way.

This year, the men’s team will face a squad led by one of their very own alumnus Collin Ralko, former captain of the Rattlers men’s basketball has taken the reins as head coach of the Olds Broncos

Ralko spent University with the Rattlers from 2013 to 2018. Once he wrapped up his playing career, he wanted to stick with the sport in any way he could. He coached high school teams, at the Alberta Summer games and was an assistant coach at St.Mary’s University for two years.

However mentors of Ralko’s encouraged him to go further in his career. One of those mentors is Rich Humphrey, head basketball coach at Medicine Hat College. Ralko then applied for Olds College and got the job.

The college appreciated Ralkos ability to connect with players and create a team with a focus on community and education. Even though Ralko now has a team of his own, he says he still holds values from his playing years that he plans to pass down to his athletes.

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“It’s always been about the relationships. If I can’t connect with them, if I can’t build a trusting and meaningful relationship that I trust them, they trust me and we can’t be vulnerable and honest with each other, they’re not going to care or listen to anything that I say,” Ralko says.

He adds, “when you are a part of my team, I view us as brothers. We are family and in whatever way that is, I take care of you. That kind of really segued from when I was a captain at Medicine Hat, where our kind of motto or quote was always brotherhood.”

Ralko says he’s looking forward to playing the Rattlers in an exhibition game in October, and in January for the regular season.