CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. – Donathan (Donnie) Moss is back where his Canadian basketball career began.
The only difference is this time he’s not wearing a uniform.
Moss has joined the Holland College Hurricanes men’s basketball team’s coaching staff this season as an assistant.
“It’s exciting,” Moss said after Sunday’s victory. “They gave me an opportunity here. They brought me from the Bahamas when I didn't have opportunities, so it’s good to be back here.”
Moss was recruited to Charlottetown by Holland College to play for the Hurricanes basketball team in 2009-10. He played two seasons with Holland College, earning the most improved player award in his rookie season and MVP in Year 2.
He joined the UPEI Panthers for the 2011-12 before a serious knee injury cost him the 2012-13 season. He returned to the green and white the next season before transferring to the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT) Ooks for his final season of eligibility as a player. He won a Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) championship in 2016 as an Ooks assistant coach.
“God brought me back here to try and win a championship, something I never did as a player,” Moss said. “I think this school deserves it, (when you consider) where it has come from and how much time and effort they put into it.”
The native of Nassau, Bahamas, who is known for his positive personality and smile, played for George Morrison at Holland College while Josh Whitty was the assistant coach. Whitty is now the Hurricanes bench boss. The two have stayed in touch since Moss left Holland College and reconnected in the spring.
“I had no intention of coaching and I talked to Whitty and he gave me an opportunity,” Moss explained. “The school has always been great to me, and I’m extremely blessed, grateful and thankful.”
Whitty said Moss is a great resource for the Hurricanes. He played for a few different coaches and brings different experiences to the coaching staff.
“He’s a relatable guy . . . all the guys know him and they respect him,” Whitty said. “He’s just a first-rate guy, so it’s nice to have him around.”
Athletics at Holland College is still relatively new, but Whitty said it is a sign of the culture that is being fostered when players are involved as coaches or fans of the team.
“We have lots of guys that are former players that are still coming to games,” he said. “It’s nice to see that sort of interest. . . It’s nice when you have alumni coming back and being involved.”
Need to know
Donathan (Donnie) Moss
Who – A former Holland College Hurricanes and UPEI Panthers basketball player and current assistant coach with the Hurricanes men’s squad.
Age, hometown – 27, Nassau, Bahamas.
Moss: “I consider here home, so it would be nice to win a national championship here. It wouldn't be for me, but for the players and the coach. I would be grateful to be a part of (it).”
Weekend games – The Hurricanes host UNBSJ today with the women’s game at 1 p.m. and the men’s contest at 3 p.m. Holland College travels to Mount Allison Sunday for gams at 3 p.m. (women’s) and 5 p.m. (men’s).
