On Monday, Feb. 3, the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) woke up to groundbreaking news, sending shockwaves through the world of Canadian basketball. Head Coach and General Manager of the Niagara River Lions, Victor Raso, was stepping away from coaching and entering an advisory position ahead of the 2026 season.
Raso is widely considered the greatest coach in league history and possesses an otherworldly resume, including two CEBL titles (2024, 2025), CEBL Coach of the Year (2019), the longest-tenured head coach in league history, and a team that never missed the playoffs.
It was a shock to fans around the country when the news broke that he was stepping down from his role so abruptly. He had just won back-to-back championships and was leading the smallest market in the CEBL on a legendary run. Regardless of why he chose a different path, it was time for somebody new to step in and fill such big shoes.
Shortly after the announcement about Raso, CEBL fans were met with more shocking news: Kimbal Mackenzie was named the team’s next Head Coach and General Manager. Mackenzie had been a part of the organization since 2023 and captained both championship teams along the way to becoming the brand and community ambassador for the River Lions in 2025. He was an integral part of the team’s recent success, and his play on the court demonstrated that, producing some of the most memorable moments at the Meridian Centre.
The Bucknell product is the heart and soul of the River Lions, always showing up to games with a smile on his face and carrying himself with the utmost charisma night in and night out.
It’s no surprise Mackenzie was chosen for this position, having accumulated one of the sharpest resumes in such a short period. His experience includes Head Coach for Ridley College’s basketball development programme, 2025 Niagara College Interim Women’s basketball Head Coach (14-2 record), a lengthy professional playing career spanning across different countries and his aforementioned Brand and Community Ambassador position. His impact off the court and into the Niagara region can’t be understated enough, making appearances at local schools to give speeches and present the championship trophy, leading basketball camps for kids, and attending promotional events. He embodies what it is to be a professional.
When asked about what went into his decision to take the Head Coaching and General Manager job, Mackenzie attributed it to a change of plans in his career.
“I was playing. I spent the first six years playing overseas, and I was at a point in my career where I was going to stay local and play in Canada for the next few years, so I figured I might of had three or four years left in me. My plan from there was to go coach, so it was essentially just fast-tracked a little bit. I didn’t see it coming, but ultimately, that ball is gonna stop bouncing one day, so an opportunity like this I couldn’t pass up.”
Going from player one year to a Head Coach and General Manager the next, especially for the team you just played for, isn’t easy, but Mackenzie explained his thought process moving forward.
“There’s going to be some adjustments. Being a player has some challenges of its own, in terms of taking care of your body, making sure you’re mentally prepared for an all-out battle every time you step out on that court. There’s still a certain simplicity to it. Whereas coaching (and GM) is going to consume some more thought in terms of overseeing the entire basketball side of things. What players are we going to have in? What does our coaching staff look like? What’s our offensive strategy? It’s going to be a lot more time for me outside of the court.”
Mackenzie aims to bring the same identity Niagara has carried for the past few seasons, one filled with lots of pride and a winning culture. He emphasized “continuity” as something he looks to keep around the organization, coming off the team’s two best seasons to date. “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” Mackenzie said when asked about what could be different next year. The newest member of the coaching staff talked about keeping some of the same principles Raso had implemented in previous years while bringing his own personality to the table.
“The schemes, the offence, the defence that Vic was running were really good, so a lot of things are going to be similar. I think I would be silly to go off and try to reinvent the wheel. I’ll definitely bring my own personality. I think that it’s important for the head coach of the team is being themselves and let their personality shine through. There will definitely be some differences, but I think there will be a lot of similarities as well.”
Raso’s legacy on the River Lions isn’t solely reflected by his team’s success, but in the impact he left on his players. Mackenzie broke down how instrumental Raso was to helping not only his playing but also his coaching career.
“People don’t know this, but before I even played a professional basketball game, I was practicing with the River Lions because Vic or I had reached out to one another. He said, ‘Come on by practice, get some reps with our guys.’ From there, we developed a relationship, playing with him for two and a half years. He makes it look easy, I’ll be honest. I got a world of respect for Vic. I’ve learned a ton from him, and I’ve got some big shoes to fill.”
Mackenzie continued speaking on Raso, noting his ability to relate to his players and staff while still possessing an elite focus that kept his team dialled in each day at work.
“He works his tail off and makes it look easy. The way he shows up, he always wants to make a joke or have some fun, but the dude is just prepared. That’s the biggest thing I’ll learn from Vic: we always felt like we were the most prepared team in the league and I plan to continue that and just make sure that I’m doing everything I can to put players in positions to succeed.”
Taking the reins with such a touted organization comes with high expectations from fans and viewers, who are used to seeing the team win on a regular basis. For Mackenzie, this is just extra motivation to become the best version of himself. He used the word “continuity” again and mentioned how his goals were to maintain the same culture and mindset heading into his first year coaching a professional team.
“From my side of things, being as prepared as I possibly can be and putting in more work than the rest of the coaches in the league.” Said Mackenzie.
Mackenzie boiled it down to winning as the ultimate goal during his tenure with the team. He noted that no matter what the case may be, he’s there to bring Niagara as much hardware as possible.
“I would not be playing basketball, I would not be coaching basketball if my main goal wasn’t to win every game and to win a championship. In the meantime, it’s about the preparation, it’s about continuing the culture of excellence, being authentic and letting the rest take care of itself.”
Niagara’s impromptu dominance over the CEBL has brought new life to the region, fostering a welcoming environment for new fans to enjoy one of the best teams in Canada. “Niagara is a top-class organization,” Mackenzie said. The consistent return of players and members of the coaching staff is a testament to the culture the franchise has built over its existence. Players like Khalil Ahmad, Jahvon Blair and Nathan Cayo are notable names that have made numerous returns to the team in a league built on one-year contracts.
As for Mackeznie, he says he doesn’t plan on making this a one-off gig. The former player says he’s excited to kick-start his professional coaching career with the team he won two championships with, and hopes to learn a lot in the process.
“The beautiful part about coaching is there’s no age limit on it and I plan on coaching for a long time. I’m aware there’s going to be a big learning curve for me in terms of figuring myself out as a coach, my philosophies, X’s and O’s. But I know what I can bring, and that is intensity, passion, the love for the game and the love for the players I’m coaching.”
When asked who he’s most excited to coach this summer, Mackenzie made it clear that “there are no confirmations on rosters yet,” but he plans on targeting former teammates and players who were vital in the team’s recent surge to the top of the league.
“I’m going to be going after some of the guys that have been key to our runs and our championship teams, guys that know how to win, that have what it takes and guys who understand what it takes to be a River Lion.”
While he did state that there were going to be some new faces on the team, Mackenzie plans to have “a core of guys that fans are familiar with.”
To Mackenzie, Niagara, and the River Lions organization mean more than just basketball. In a heartfelt statement, he shared his love for the region and how the organization has made him feel at home.
“It means the world. If you had asked me after playing for them for two years what the organization meant to me, I woulda said I love it. I love how they do things; they’re first class, they take care of their people. To step into a role as a full-time community ambassador, a job that they carved out for me, and the honour of being able to step into a head coach and GM role, they mean the world to me.”
The Niagara River Lions are back-to-back CEBL champions and have created some of the league’s most memorable moments, helping it grow in popularity around Canada. Now with a new head coach and general manager at the helm, it will be interesting to see if the team can repeat their success from previous years. Gone is the Raso era, and in comes a familiar face in a new role. Kimbal Mackenzie opens a new chapter to the River Lions franchise in hopes of climbing back to the top of the ladder and cementing his legacy amongst the league’s best coaches.