The Scarborough native joined WBC as the organization’s NextGen Player Development and Recruitment Coordinator
Jesse McNalley was introduced to the wheelchair basketball coach at Variety Village when he was eight years old and has been involved in the sport ever since.
Born and raised in Scarborough, Ont., McNalley began playing with a friend before joining the athlete pool for Team Ontario’s Canada Games Cycle. McNalley represented Team O at the 2007 Games in Whitehorse and the 2011 Canada Games in Halifax.
“My best friend and I started playing together at Variety Village. It was a good way to hang out with him,” McNalley explained. “We enjoyed playing the sport, especially with our coach, and we just kept playing forever.”
Twenty-five years after he started playing wheelchair basketball, McNalley says he remains involved because of the people.
“They kept me around. Also, the game, in general, is a little fun,” he said. “I enjoy the chair skills and the whole game. I love the point system and how different it is from other sports. I think the people, mainly, are what has kept me around wheelchair basketball. I enjoy the community.”
A plumber by trade, McNalley dabbles in wakeboarding and snowboarding, but wheelchair basketball has remained his go-to sport.
In addition to playing for Team Ontario, McNalley has suited up with the Toronto Tigers and Scarborough Tigers to compete at the CWBL National Championships.
At 33, McNalley’s interest in the sport has shifted to coaching.
He occasionally steps in and helps out at Variety Village and enjoys coaching the next generation of wheelchair basketball talent.
“I enjoy working one-on-one with athletes and helping build their skills,” McNalley said. “One of my favourite parts of coaching is working one-on-one and trying to bring out the best in the athletes.
“I think it’s quite a bit of fun trying to help build other people’s skills.”
In May 2023, McNalley joined Wheelchair Basketball Canada as the organization’s Performance Analyst, assisting the Senior Men’s and Senior Women’s National Teams through the IWBF World Championships, Parapan American Games and the Paralympic Games.
McNalley also served as an assistant coach at the Paris Games.
In October, McNalley stepped into the role of NextGen Player Development and Recruitment Coordinator, where he will be responsible for formalizing the pathway for NextGen athletes to compete for roster spots on the National Team.
“I like working with younger athletes,” said McNalley. “When I find someone trying to take their game to the next level, I like to help them with that. This role is a fit for me. I know a lot of the NextGen athletes already. The role is also a chance to help the organization start something new, and do something different, switch it up a little bit and maybe make a little bit more of an impact on future National Teams.”
McNalley’s immediate focus is helping the Men’s Under-23 Team and coaches Darrell Nordell and Christian LaSerra as they prepare for the 2024 Kitakyushu Champions Cup, the U-23 Qualifier and the U-23 World Championship.
Part of the role will take McNalley around the country, scouting the next generation of wheelchair basketball athletes.
“It’s going to be a lot of fun getting to do that,” McNalley said. “Getting to scout athletes – doing something I haven’t done before. I think it’ll be really good. I’m excited.”