Jets join forces with university for degree

May 2 2008 by David Triggs, Chester Chronicle

Jets join forces with university for degree

BIG Storage Cheshire Jets have teamed up with the University of Chester to launch a course specialising in one of the area’s favourite sports – basketball.

From this autumn, the university will be running a foundation degree in sports coaching (basketball) that will see 25 students combining their studies on campus with working alongside Jets’ professional coaches and players.

The students will also help deliver the club’s community programme in schools and is hoped the best players will fill places in the Jets’ British Basketball League (BBL) squad.

Andrew Donaldson, partner of Jets’ sponsors BiG Storage, came up with the idea of a basketball degree last year.

He said: “Since our sponsorship of the Jets last summer, it soon became apparent that a number of our best young basketball players were leaving the country to go and study basketball in the US, as there were few other options for them in the UK.

“Well, not any more – we all hope this degree will not only attract potential elite GB future players, but also attract people looking for a basketball coaching career. We even hope that a couple of the students may make it on to the Jets’ bench next season.”

Professor Sarah Andrew, dean of applied and health sciences at the university, added: “The university views this as the beginning of a long-term partnership with BiG Storage Cheshire Jets.

“The degree will be located at the university’s Warrington campus, and will provide an opportunity to develop further the already excellent sports facilities at the site.

“The campus was visited by Keith Mair, chief executive of England Basketball, and he declared the partnership to be unique in the UK.”

Basketball has always been popular in Cheshire thanks to the presence of the Jets, who are still one of the country’s most successful clubs despite having endured three trophy-less seasons.

The degree is the first stage of the Jets and the university working together towards a key strategic long-term partnership.

The two parties hope the appeal of the new course will reach far and wide, bringing some of the UK’s most talented young players to Cheshire.

They are launching it this weekend at the BBL play-off finals at the National Indoor Arena in Birmingham.

Promotional leaflets will be distributed to those present and there will also be a stand manned by representatives from the Jets and the university.

Jets’ Nigerian ace Jayson Obazuaye has been named in the BBL’s All-Star team for the 2008/09 season, voted for by BBL coaches.