Latest News
OUBbC Welcomes Coach Greg Robertson as New Head Coach of the Men's Blues
The University of Oxford Basketball Club is very excited to announce Coach Greg Robertson as Head Coach of the Men's Blues. Joining from St. Thomas Ontario Canada, Robertson brings with him a wealth of success, boasting 18 years of running and coaching elite youth basketball programs.
Prior to his upcoming arrival in Oxford, Robertson has coached and recruited College Basketball (OCAA) for Lambton College, Fanshawe College, and for Under Armour camps through Canada Elite. He has also ran his own skill training camps and house leagues working with youth players from a young age right through to professional players. On top of this, he has also devoted time to training new coaches over the last few years. As a result, Coach Robertson brings with him an excellent work ethic and ability to relate to players. This, along with his obsession with the game and passion for helping players achieve their goals both on and off the court, promises an exciting season for the Blues, as well as for fans of OUBbC who enjoy a tough and up-tempo style of basketball. |
On his appointment as Head Coach, Robertson has said "Coach Smith has left some big shoes to fill, and I believe goals should always be fluidly changing, but my first order of business will be to get to know the players; their strengths and weaknesses; what their goals for the season are as basketball players; and then work with the rest of the coaching staff to implement a strategy to make sure we are doing everything possible to get them there. A team always works best when everyone is going the same direction, and every coach and player understands and accepts their role."
The club is looking forward to welcoming Coach Robertson to Oxford, and cannot wait to watch him and the Blues in the upcoming season.
26/09/2023
The club is looking forward to welcoming Coach Robertson to Oxford, and cannot wait to watch him and the Blues in the upcoming season.
26/09/2023
Winningest Coach in Oxford University Men’s Basketball History Steps Down
Head men’s basketball coach Jamie Smith is leaving Oxford University to pursue his dream of coaching in the United States. Smith departs as the winningest coach in Oxford University basketball history.
Coach Smith was hired to restore a winning culture, and he did just that. Over the course of three seasons, Smith led the Blues to a 56-23 (.709) overall record, a BUCS league championship, promotion to BUCS Tier 1, their first OBA Cup title since 1971, their first Varsity Game win over Cambridge since 2017-18, and a winning record in the Blues’ first NBL season since 1965-66. Even with a shortened 2020-21 season due to Covid-19, The Blues won more games in the past three seasons (56) than the nine seasons preceding Smith’s arrival (50).
Smith was named head coach in June 2020, in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic. Despite the 2020-21 BUCS season being cancelled, Smith maximized the student-athlete experience by providing a meaningful programme of practices and games within Covid-19 restrictions. The Blues finished the season with a 7-3 (.700) record, the highest winning percentage since 2010-11. The Blues beat cross-town rival Oxford Brookes University for the first time since 2008-09. The 87-47 win over Brookes was the largest margin of victory in the 40-year history of the rivalry.
Coach Smith was hired to restore a winning culture, and he did just that. Over the course of three seasons, Smith led the Blues to a 56-23 (.709) overall record, a BUCS league championship, promotion to BUCS Tier 1, their first OBA Cup title since 1971, their first Varsity Game win over Cambridge since 2017-18, and a winning record in the Blues’ first NBL season since 1965-66. Even with a shortened 2020-21 season due to Covid-19, The Blues won more games in the past three seasons (56) than the nine seasons preceding Smith’s arrival (50).
Smith was named head coach in June 2020, in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic. Despite the 2020-21 BUCS season being cancelled, Smith maximized the student-athlete experience by providing a meaningful programme of practices and games within Covid-19 restrictions. The Blues finished the season with a 7-3 (.700) record, the highest winning percentage since 2010-11. The Blues beat cross-town rival Oxford Brookes University for the first time since 2008-09. The 87-47 win over Brookes was the largest margin of victory in the 40-year history of the rivalry.
In 2021-22, Smith led the Oxford University Blues to one of the most successful seasons in programme history. The Blues finished with a 23-3 (.885) overall record - the most wins (23) and highest winning percentage (.885) since the 1998-99 season. The Blues went a perfect 10-0 in BUCS League play to win the league championship and earn promotion to BUCS Tier 1. The Blues swept crosstown rivals Oxford Brookes in their head-to-head series and capped off the season with an 82-65 win over the Oxford Devils in the OBA Cup final.
Success continued in 2022-23, with the Blues entering the National Basketball League (NBL) for the first time since 1965-66. The Blues put together a 26-17 season including an unprecedented 11 wins over national league competition. The 26 wins were the biggest win total since 1993-94 and marked the first back-to-back 20-win season since 1998-99. Back in BUCS Tier 1 for the first time since 2018-19, the Blues made their presence known immediately with a 70-68 win over Loughborough University in the opening BUCS game of the season. Oxford would be the only team to beat Tier 1 Loughborough in BUCS competition all season. Other notable wins followed, including Oxford’s first win over Worcester since 2009-10, a first ever win over Derby, and a 117-60 victory over Birmingham City, the biggest margin of victory in a BUCS game during Coach Smith’s tenure. However, the season will be most fondly remembered for an outstanding 84-74 performance over Cambridge University in The Varsity Game, Oxford’s first win over Cambridge since the 2017-18 season. |
Coach Smith’s impact on the club extended beyond winning. Smith was passionate about providing more competitive playing opportunities to students at the University of Oxford. In 2020 as part of this vision, Smith founded the Oxford University Freshers (a team dedicated to first-year players). Beginning as a development squad in 2020-21, the Freshers went on to enter the Oxfordshire & Chiltern Basketball League in 2021-22. In 2022-23, the Freshers won their first piece of silverware when they beat Witney Wolves in the OBA Plate Championship Game. More students have represented the University of Oxford in competitive games during the past two years than during any other period of the club’s history.
During his tenure, Smith researched the history of the club and restored a number of Oxford University Basketball Club traditions including the Blues vs Twos, the Oxford Derby, and the Town vs Gown games. Smith re-established the university’s relationship with the Oxfordshire Basketball Association (OBA), and brought back the annual Oxford University vs OBA All-Stars Game in 2023. In 2020, Smith helped the club secure a sponsorship deal with Kappa worth £10k per season. He also designed Oxford University’s game uniforms and team apparel.
In appreciation of the effort to reconnect the university to the local community, Oxford University was named 2022-23 Oxfordshire Basketball Association Club of the Year.
Coach Smith dedicated the 2022-23 season and The Varsity Game win over Cambridge University to his father William Smith who unexpectedly passed away prior to the beginning of the season. Smith who previously worked for the Boston Celtics and Cleveland Cavaliers in the NBA will be taking the next few months to take care of his father’s affairs before returning to the United States ahead of the 2024-25 season. We wish Coach Smith the best of luck in achieving his American dream. Once a Blue always a Blue!
During his tenure, Smith researched the history of the club and restored a number of Oxford University Basketball Club traditions including the Blues vs Twos, the Oxford Derby, and the Town vs Gown games. Smith re-established the university’s relationship with the Oxfordshire Basketball Association (OBA), and brought back the annual Oxford University vs OBA All-Stars Game in 2023. In 2020, Smith helped the club secure a sponsorship deal with Kappa worth £10k per season. He also designed Oxford University’s game uniforms and team apparel.
In appreciation of the effort to reconnect the university to the local community, Oxford University was named 2022-23 Oxfordshire Basketball Association Club of the Year.
Coach Smith dedicated the 2022-23 season and The Varsity Game win over Cambridge University to his father William Smith who unexpectedly passed away prior to the beginning of the season. Smith who previously worked for the Boston Celtics and Cleveland Cavaliers in the NBA will be taking the next few months to take care of his father’s affairs before returning to the United States ahead of the 2024-25 season. We wish Coach Smith the best of luck in achieving his American dream. Once a Blue always a Blue!
Achievements during Coach Smith's tenure...
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Players on Coach Smith
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16/08/23
VARSITY RESULTS ARE IN!
Oxford hosted a great Varsity on the 11th March with Oxford getting a clean sweep over our rivals: Cambridge! A big thank you to everyone who helped out, those who watched, and a big congratulations to all of our players!
Here are the results:
Women's Twos: 38-36
Men's Twos: 61-55
Men's Blues: 84-74
Women's Blues: 69-50
To watch the livestream of any of the games, check out our YouTube here.
#tabswereshoed
11/03/23
Here are the results:
Women's Twos: 38-36
Men's Twos: 61-55
Men's Blues: 84-74
Women's Blues: 69-50
To watch the livestream of any of the games, check out our YouTube here.
#tabswereshoed
11/03/23
OXFORD vs CAMBRIDGE VARSITY 2023
Tune in for the annual Varsity match against Cambridge on the 11th March 2023 at the Iffley Road Sports Centre, Oxford!
Schedule:
Schedule:
- 09:00 - Oxford Men's Freshman vs Oxford University Alumni
- 11:00 - Oxford Women's Twos vs Cambridge Women's Twos
- 13:00 - Oxford Men's Twos vs Cambridge Men's Twos
- 15:00 - Oxford Men's Blues vs Cambridge Men's Blues
- 17:00 - Oxford Women's Blues vs Cambridge Women's Blues