Coach. Mentor. Mississauga Proud. Coach Howard Nanes is a Guiding Force in His Community.

CAO’s Empowering Stories from Behind the Bench article series – September 2025 – National Coaches Week in Ontario

“I have met a phenomenal group of coaches – but we must find ways to get more women coaching at higher levels.”

By David Grossman

To many athletes, and that includes coaches, there is always a struggle for greatness.

Dig deep into the world of sport, amateur or professional, and there are often clear signs of a dedication and inter-connection that tend to involve a framework of spirituality, faith and religious beliefs.

Pick your sport. What is popular among athletes, and of all ages, is the link between physical, mental and even spiritual well-being. 

Not to be forgotten are the coaches.

The backbone of bringing the knowledge, coaches are also the people who have the added experience and capability to handle the motivation and training, the inspiration and guidance, as well as the pressures and lessons that are part of the experience of competition.

Included in that group of special coaches is Howard Nañes. He’s in his 26^th year as a coach and about to launch a fourth year as the go-to individual for the Eagles – that’s the moniker for both the men’s and women’s basketball teams that he coaches at UTM, the campus of the University of Toronto at Mississauga.

Forty years ago, Nañes was born in Toronto – but calls Mississauga his home.

A graduate of St. Francis Xavier Secondary, his educational circuit expanded from grade school to two years at Tyndale University before transferring to York University. That’s where he earned a Bachelors’ degree focussing on psychology and religious studies.

Added to the initials after his name came a Master of Divinity at McMaster University in Hamilton followed by Teacher’s College certification from the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education at the University of Toronto.

For Nañes, growing up in a family deeply faithful, his initiation to pastoral and missionary work involved volunteering in churches and missions and that began in his senior year of high school.

“I always wanted to be that person who helped others – to make an impact and a positive change to people’s lives,” said Nañes, who points to a Chaplain and several pastors as individuals who made a lasting impression on him.

“I was positively impacted, and the benefactor, of great things from teachers and coaches to a point that it motivated me a great deal.”

There was a time when a career in teaching may have been the furthest thing from his mind. That would change. Nañes knew that he had a special gift – and it was one that included a determined devotion to share with others and do his best to make the world a better place.

After 10 years working at St. Martin Catholic Secondary, he left to pursue Chaplaincy.

However, when the Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board made a controversial call to remove teacher chaplains, Nañes would have to make an adjustment. His allegiance and unique blend of skills moved to that of a classroom setting.

Instead of being inclusive to everyone and offering religious assistance and care to people of all beliefs, spiritualities and cultures, he’s now at Iona Catholic Secondary teaching the trio of physical education, drama and civics.

Earning academic honors throughout his educational career,Nañes did find time for extracurricular activities. Basketball interested him and he was a shooting guard and team captain during his younger years.

As for his introduction to coaching, that began in 1998 – at the age of 13.

“I coached my younger brother – that was my debut,” recalled Nañes, who is Filipino and proud of his heritage. “The Mississauga Pilipino Athletic Association ran a basketball league and tournaments at Lorne Park Secondary. My first year as a coach, it was very special and something I thoroughly enjoyed. We won the Division title and then the championship.”

The Coaches Association of Ontario (CAO) highlights individuals for their time, talent and support in improving performance and increasing confidence of athletes. For National Coaches Week, Nañes was chosen to be featured in the popular series called “Empowering Stories from Behind the Bench”.

Shining the spotlight on individuals, like Nañes, focuses on his contribution to coaching and the strong fundamentals of guidance, training and improvement.

Always highlighting the important balance of religion, social connections, spirituality and sport, Nañes was nominated for Ontario’s highest coaching honor after several years of impressive efforts in the CAO’s Coach Mentorship Program. In many ways, sport functions as a religionoccupying the lives of athletes and coaches.

This connection between sport and religion is not new. Throughout history, sport has played a significant role in communal and spiritual life, underscoring its enduring power to bring people together. In fact, sports can convey important lessons about behaviour, values and achievements.

Former players who benefitted from Nañes, have applauded his impressive contribution that has made their lives more meaningful – especially with his emphasis on perseverance, resilience, a robust work ethic and a never give up attitude.

Others, highlighting his passion, caring and ability to assist them, claim his balance of enjoyment and seriousness have made practices more engaging and competitive. His calm and confident demeanor during games has inspired players to focus on doing their best regardless of the outcome.

“There are so many ways to reach people – and as a coach I have an audience,” he said. “I tell my players to be the best version of yourself. Go forwards in life, continue to learn and strive whether it’s in basketball or family life.”

Times do change – and not just as it relates to the final score of a game.

“The job of coaching is tougher now than when I started,” said Nañes, who has earned a Level 3 status in the National Coaching Certification Program. “The climate is different. More pressures on people. As a coach, I can be tough if players are not respectful, late for practice or not performing in a manner where I know they can do better.

“My job includes building high character traits. To me, that’s way more important than a win in a game. It’s about instilling positive values, planting seeds of progress and allowing them to grow. Basketball, like all sports, is a vehicle to teach students to be successful – to deal with joy and tears, wins and losses, experience success, failures and to learn resilience. Coaching should not be restricted to just winning awards and medals.”

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David Grossman is a veteran multi award-winning Journalist and Broadcaster with some of Canada’s major media, including the Toronto Star and SPORTSNET 590 THE FAN, and a Public Relations professional for 50+ years in Canadian sports and Government relations.