Chris Cheng is the head coach of the Lancer men's basketball team, and just the sixth coach in Windsor's program history.
In his first season with the blue and gold in 2019-20, Coach Cheng brought the Lancers back into the playoffs with a third-place finish in the OUA west division. The Lancers had back-to back playoff appearances (2019-20 & 2021-22) due to the season being canceled for the 2020-21 season. In the 2023-23 season, the Lancers returned to the U Sports Top 10 finishing the season #6 in the country. It was the first return to the Top 10 in 8 years. The team were crowned West Division Champions and made a Final Four OUA appearance. That season also saw a historic moment as team captain, Thomas Kennedy, was honoured as OUA Most Valuable Player and recipient of the Mike Moser Memorial Trophy (U Sports Outstanding Player). The first recipient to be honoured with this award in program history.
Near the beginning of his career, Cheng was a Centre of Performance Coach with Ontario Basketball Association from 2004-2014.
Prior to joining the Lancers, Cheng served as the first-ever head coach of men’s basketball at Nipissing University in North Bay. At Nipissing, he built the men’s basketball program from the ground up and led them into their inaugural appearance in U SPORTS in the 2014-15 season. His Nipissing team entered the OUA in the tough east division and their continued improvement saw them qualify for the OUA playoffs in only their third season in existence in 2016-17, where they defeated Queen’s in the first round.
Before his time at Nipissing, Cheng served as an assistant coach at York University. During Cheng’s five seasons at York as an assistant and a recruiter for the program, the Lions reached the OUA post-season in each of those years. He also previously served as an assistant coach at Humber College. During Cheng’s time at Humber, they earned two provincial championships (05, 06) and two Final Four appearances at the national championships. Beyond his duties with their men’s varsity team, Cheng also developed and served as the Head Coach for the Humber College junior varsity men’s basketball team. Cheng was inducted into the Humber College Intramural Hall of Fame as a ‘Builder’ and ‘Coach’ in 2021.
He also previously served as head coach of Ontario Basketball’s U17 boys’ provincial team from 2010-2012. Cheng’s teams captured back-to-back national championships in 2011 and 2012, and he was named the 2011 Ontario Basketball Men’s Elite coach of the year. Chris is also a Centre of Performance coach with the Ontario Basketball Association.
In addition to his experience coaching in U SPORTS and the OUA, Cheng has an extensive resume with both the Canadian national and Ontario provincial programs. He was an assistant coach with the Junior Men's National team for Canada Basketball in the 2018 FIBA Americans winning a silver medal and the 2019 U19 World Championships in Greece. Cheng also served as an assistant coach with the U17 Cadet National Team that competed in the 2022 U17 World Championships in Malaga, Spain. Before these accolades, Cheng served as a Team Manager for the Cadet and Senior Men's National Team from 2015-2017 and was the Manager of Youth Development from 2012-2015.
In the spring of 2023, Cheng was appointed the Head Coach of the U16/U17 Cadet Men’s National Team program. Cheng led the U16 National Team to a silver medal performance at the 2023 FIBA America’s Qualifiers and qualified for the 2024 U17 World Championships. Cheng will lead the U17 National Team program at the World Championships held in Istanbul, Turkey beginning June 25 – July 7.
Cheng is a graduate from York University where he earned a Sociology Degree and an Education Degree. He is also a graduate of Humber College where he completed both his Early Childhood Education and Recreation and Leisure Services diploma. He was awarded the provincial Jill Logon Teaching Award, the Sport Alliance Award and was the recipient of the Humber College Board of Governors Award during his time there. Cheng also earned his Masters of Kinesiology in Sport Management and Leaderships at the University of Windsor.
Chris lives in Lasalle with his wife Siobhan and their son Tyus and daughters Taia and Ryan. Follow Coach Cheng on social media @coach_cheng