Spencer McKay enters his fifth season as the fulltime assistant coach of the UBC men’s basketball program, having been named to his position in April 2013. Since then, the Thunderbirds have improved their conference record every season, going 60-22 in league play.
McKay boasts an impressive resume having most recently earned induction into the University of Victoria Sports Hall of Fame in April 2017. Before that, he was part of the Basketball BC Hall of Fame’s Class of 2014.
A five-time Canada West All-Star and three-time All-Canadian as a player with the Victoria Vikes from 1986-91, McKay remains the program’s alltime leading scorer, averaging 18.4 points per game during his career. He played three seasons under legendary coach Ken Shields and two years for the late Guy Vetrie.
Following his university career, the native of Oliver, B.C., went on to play 16 years professionally in Hungary, Belgium, Austria, Spain, France, Portugal, Mexico, and Taiwan. McKay was a member of the Canadian national team for 10 years (1985-1995), highlighted by an appearance at the 1994 World Championship in Toronto in which Canada finished seventh. He also was a member of the silver medal-winning Canadian team at the 1991 Summer Universiade in Sheffield, England.
After retiring as a player McKay, remained in Europe for another seven years coaching at the International School of Brussels. He returned to B.C. in 2012, spending a year as an assistant coach at University of Victoria.
McKay graduated from Victoria with a Bachelor of Kinesiology in 1991 and continues to run his annual Nothin’ But Net Basketball Camp in his hometown of Oliver.
