Rattlers Fire Head Coach Demopoulos, Promote Assistant Massey as Replacement, in Trying to Salvage Season

It’s not exactly a hero to zero situation, but the Saskatchewan Rattlers are trying to salvage their season and make the CEBL playoffs.

To that end, the Snakes fired Dean Demopoulos (pictured) as head coach Tuesday night and promoted assistant Tanner Massey to the top job. Demopoulos led the Rattlers to the playoffs in his first season last year with an 11-9 record, including 8-2 at home at SaskTel Centre. However, Saskatchewan has struggled in 2023 with a 4-8 log, worst in the 10-team C-E-B-L. Massey will try to turn around the Snakes’ fortunes, starting tonight when they host the Eastern Conference-leading, 8-5, Ottawa Blackjacks. First tip-off is 7 p.m. at SaskTel Centre. Following is the news release from the Rattlers…..

The Saskatchewan Rattlers of the Canadian Elite Basketball League announced Tuesday that they have relieved Dean Demopoulos of his duties as the team’s head coach. Assistant coach Tanner Massey has been named head coach for the remainder of the 2023 season. Demopoulos departs with a record of 16-18 since he was appointed to the role prior to the 2022 campaign.

Demopoulos led Saskatchewan to a play-in game in the 2022 CEBL postseason thanks to a league-fifth regular season record (11-9). The team then went on to secure a quarterfinal berth after beating two-time CEBL champion Edmonton Stingers at the SaskTel Centre in Saskatoon, SK. The Rattlers also held a league-best home record, 8-2, in 2022.

“The entire Rattlers organization is grateful for Dean’s role in completely turning around the fortunes of the franchise last season,” said Rattlers General Manager Barry Rawlyk. “Unfortunately, we were not able to capitalize on that momentum this season, and it is felt that change is necessary in order for the team to move forward. We wish Dean all the best in all of his future endeavours.”

Massey, a native of South Carolina, has coached numerous NCAA, NAIA, and NBA G League teams. He served as a graduate assistant coach with the University of South Alabama, a video coordinator with the University of South Carolina, and an assistant coach with Union College. While in the NBA G League, he was an assistant coach with Erie Bayhawks, Northern Arizona Suns, and Capital City Go-Go.

Massey joined the coaching staff for the Orlando Magic in the NBA Summer League during the 2015 and 2016 seasons. The Orlando Magic finished as runner-ups in 2015, and took the NBA Summer League Championship in 2016. In 2017, he was hired as an assistant coach by the Hiroshima Dragonflies in the Japanese B League. Massey credits his time in Japan to exposing him to a new style of play and reinforcing the importance of team-oriented basketball.

Massey made his CEBL debut in 2021 serving as assistant coach of the Fraser Valley Bandits (now Vancouver Bandits). The Bandits were 7-7 during the regular season abbreviated by COVID-19. Massey took over for Bandits head coach Dave Singleton (Covid-19 protocols) in the playoffs and led the Bandits to a play-in victory before the team was eliminated by Niagara in the semifinals. In 2022, Massey joined the Rattlers bench as Lead Assistant to Demopoulos. After the 2022 CEBL season, Massey travelled to Finland to join the BC Nokia coaching staff in top level league, Korisliiga. where he coached current Rattlers fan-favorite Malik Benlevi.

“Tanner Massey has been a great addition to the coaching unit both last season and this current one,” said Rattlers Vice President Brad Kraft. “He is involved in the community, and understands that building basketball in the province requires full buy-in starting at the grassroots level. We thank Coach Demopoulos and wish him all the best.”