CHARLOTTE (Steve Goldberg's Wheel World) - Up next on the world wheelchair basketball calendar is the IWBF U-23 World Championship, June 8-16 in Toronto, but before we go to Canada, there's been two big roster moves in the wheel world.

Word broke on Wednesday that Jim Scherr was resigning as executive director of the NWBA to take the CEO position at the Federation of International Lacrosse (FIL). The former USOC chief had joined the NWBA in the fall of 2015 as the "interim" executive director, with that temporary tag removed after six months on the job.

This was not a free agent looking to take his talents elsewhere. Given his background in Olympic sport from athlete to executive, it's no surprise that he was targeted by the FIL who came calling because lacrosse longs to be just that, an Olympic sport.

"It was a surprise," NWBA Vice President Bruce Fischbach told me but not something totally unexpected. "We had built a really good relationship with Jim over the past 20 months. We were appreciative of what he was able to bring to us. But one of the neat things about having really good people is that other entities are going to want to hire them away from you. And that's what ended up happening."

In regard to the FIL's aspirations, Fischbach noted that, "the most qualified person to help them reach their goal was Jim Scherr."

That's what the NWBA saw in him as well. Scherr was CEO of the U.S. Olympic Committee for seven years and someone who could open doors at decision making level.

What Scherr's time at the NWBA did do is up the game, and expectations of what the organization could and should be. By coincidence or not, for the first time since 1988 the USA won both men's and women's Paralympic gold in Rio. Like any successful athlete or team, the organization behind it must work just as hard and efficiently to flourish.

Under his watch, the NWBA began relationships with non-disability specific brands Nike and T-Mobile and additional announcements are pending.

Continuity is provided by Anthony Bartkowski who joined Scherr as the NWBA's director of marketing, communications and events after stints as executive director of USA Boxing and manager of sponsor services for USA Hockey.

The NWBA board of directors will meet next week to discuss Scherr's successor.

Canada completes the bench

As one goes out, another comes in. Wheelchair Basketball Canada finally filled its top coaching ranks with the announcement that Marc Antoine Ducharme will be the next head coach of the Canadian senior women’s national wheelchair basketball team.

That completes Canada's coaching search for the senior national teams. Matteo Feriani was given the helm of the men's side in March.

Marc Antoine Ducharme (white jersey) has been named head coach of Canada's National Women's Wheelchair Basketball Team. Photo courtesy of Wheelchair Basketball Canada.

First on the agenda for Ducharme will be earning a berth to next year’s world championship at the America’s Cup qualifier in Cali, Colombia in August.
 
"Marc Antoine is an experienced coach and a great communicator with a proven track record of success at the domestic level in Canada," said Wheelchair Basketball Canada High Performance Director Jeff Dunbrack. "As a coach and a builder he has been a driving force behind Quebec’s emergence as one the most distinguished wheelchair basketball programs in the country. We are confident he can bring that same passion and success to the National Team program and empower Team Canada to maximize its strengths and achieve results on the international stage."
 
Ducharme previously worked with Canada as an assistant coach with the senior men’s national team from 2006-2007 which included winning the gold medal at the world championship in 2006 and the silver medal at the 2007 Parapan American Games.

"This is an opportunity that does not come along every day and I intend to lead the team to success," said Ducharme.

"The collective effort of our team and the intensity of our training are two things that I do not compromise on and I am sure that this group of athletes has these types of qualities and has what it takes to get back to the top of the podium and qualify for the upcoming world championship."

An invitation from Nowitzki

Speaking of next year's IWBF World Championships, host country Germany drafted one of its biggest stars to hype the event.

NBA Dallas Mavericks and German national team monument Dirk Nowitzki is promoting the big event in Hamburg. The former NBA, FIBA World Cup and Eurobasket MVP is featured in a video complete with highlights from the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games. 

This is big. Hamburg 2018. I'm excited. Are you?NowitzkiNowitzki

Why yes Dirk, I am. Danke schön.

Steve Goldberg

FIBA

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