ST. JOHN'S, N.L. — The headline on Monday’s Telegram sports page read “Is St. John’s losing its Edge”, a play on words after the team dropped its second straight game to the Saint John Riptide, and third in the last four starts, in NBL Canada play.
Perhaps it should have read, “Is St. John’s losing its coach?”
Tuesday, the Edge announced Doug Plumb has “stepped down” as head coach of the team, “as he has pursued and accepted another opportunity in his home province of British Columbia.”
The timing of this is odd, to say the least, as the Edge has just two regular season games remaining — this Saturday and Sunday against P.E.I.’s Island Storm at Mile One Centre — before playoffs begin.
Assistant coach Steve Marcus takes over the squad for the remainder of the 2019 season.
In a news release, Plumb said, “It has been an incredible two years in St. John’s and I’ll miss this town and this organization. So many have become like family to me.
“I’ve been awarded a personal and professional opportunity on the west coast of Canada that helps my family in an incredible way. While basketball is a massive part of my life, I’m excited to move home to British Columbia to build on the next professional chapter of my life and be closer to family. St. John’s, the Edge, its fans and this community have been wonderful, and this is an experience I will never forget. It was a pleasure to come to work every morning and serve this organization.”
Plumb joined the Edge last season as an assistant to Jeff Dunlap. Marcus also served in an assistant’s capacity last season.
When Dunlap wasn’t renewed this season — he later landed an assistant coaching job with the Cal State-Northridge NCAA team — Dunlap was hired as head coach.
In a pre-season interview with The Telegram, Plumb expressed his excitement about taking over as a head coach in the NBL Canada (prior to arriving in St. John’s, he served as an assistant to Kyle Julius with the NBL’s London Lightning in 2016-17).
“I'm a workaholic by nature,” he said in November. “It's been fun ... a blast.
“I was with my girlfriend last year, and she'll kill me for saying this, but I'm alone this year and being at the gym all day is the best. There's nothing better.
“This is almost a dream job.”
A Vancouver native, Plumb starred at the University of British Columbia and later played professionally for a couple of years in Hungary and Romania.
Twitter: @TelyRobinShort
