Plumb done in London; Lightning coach moving on

The Doug Plumb era has ended. Head coach of the London Lightning since before the COVID-19 pandemic, Plumb, a Vancouver, BC native, will not return for the 2024-25 campaign. A new coach will be announced soon.

(Photo: Matt Hiscox Photography).

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The London Lightning’s quest for back-to-back BSL titles will tip-off with new leadership, as former Head Coach Doug Plumb will not return for the 2024-25 season.

“It was a great six years in London,” Plumb said on Friday. “When I came to London, I didn’t know if I wanted to be a head coach. But Vito (Frijia, Lightning owner) took me in, believed in me, and let me figure out who I am as a coach, who I am as a person, and we ended up creating something really special. I owe the Lightning and Vito a lot. I have nothing but fond memories of the organization and the community.”

Despite a championship finish, Plumb admitted that last season was among the most turbulent in his career. Injuries. Inconsistent on-the-court play. Annoying behind-the-scenes drama. It was a year that weighed on the franchise and fans alike – despite the championship hardware.

Lightning GM Mark Frijia said the lessons of last season remain with him as he seeks the next leader.

“We had to make some changes to be honest,” the GM said. “There were some things we’ve done in the past that we should have maybe walked away from a little bit sooner than we did. But we have to move forward and try to build our reputation back up.”

Plumb started his coaching career as an assistant and then head coach with the St. John’s Edge. He joined the Lightning as an assistant in 2016-17 before taking over the clipboard in 2019-20. That season, he led the Lightning to a 15-8 record, topping the central division before the COVID-19 pandemic forced the season’s cancellation.

Over four seasons in the Forest City, Plumb amassed a 74-30 coaching record, with a stellar 18-5 playoff mark that included three championships in two leagues. He leaves the franchise 10 wins shy of tying Michael Ray Richardson’s all-time regular season mark of 84.

Plumb will join British Columbia-Okanagan as a Strategic Advisor working with the athletic department, while also working to build infrastructure for the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) to come to Kelowna, BC.

London will be hiring its seventh head coach since the team debuted in 2011-12. Frijia expects to name a coach in the next few weeks, with training camp set for October and the season tipping off Nov. 15.