Nick Patola
Builder (1999)
Basketball
Nick Patola has devoted more than 45 years to the game of basketball, both as a player and coach, and influencing many young athletes, particularly during his 25 years as coach at Mount Royal Collegiate.
Nick was born in Saskatoon on April 18, 1930, grew up in the King George district and showed an interest in many sports. Basketball became his first love, playing four years with Bedford Road Collegiate, where they reach the provincial final once, and then with the University of Saskatchewan Huskies.
He started coaching at Estevan in 1952, then went to Moose Jaw in 1954 when he coached the Moose Jaw Tech Toilers to provincial championships in 1955, 1956 and 1957. After short teaching stints in Taber, Alberta, and Prince Albert, he joined the staff at Mount Royal Collegiate in 1960 where he took over the boys' basketball program.
His Mustangs went to the northern championships 15 times, his teams were provincial finalists in 1963, 1977, 1978, 1979 and 1983 and they won the Saskatchewan championship in 1985.
Nick was also involved in the launching of Saskatoon's Midi basketball league and he was provincial coach of junior men's and women's teams in 1981, 1982 and 1983. One of his great thrills was coaching Saskatchewan's team at the 1989 Canada Games, where Saskatchewan won the silver medal, losing in the final to British Columbia, who had three national team players on their lineup. He was also an assistant coach with Saskatchewan Storm when they played in the World Basketball League in 1990 and 1991.
Nick has also been active in other sports, pitching for Saskatoon Merchant softball teams, playing on a western Canada soccer championship team, winning trophies in high school track and field, and running instructional programs for youth tennis.
Nick was honored as Saskatoon's Sportsman Of The Year by the Kinsmen Club in 1990. From Nick's family, Matthew, Michael and David all played basketball for him at Mount Royal and went on to college ranks and his daughter, Joan, played basketball with the Huskiettes and Bishop's University.
** Deceased