Waknuk becomes winningest coach in Pronghorn women’s basketball history

By Lethbridge Herald on January 14, 2026.

Nathan Reiter

Lethbridge Herald

The University of Lethbridge Pronghorns has a new name in their women’s basketball record book.

Following the Pronghorns 63-53 win over the MacEwan Griffins on Saturday, Dave Waknuk became the winningest head coach in program history with his 66th career Canada West victory and 87th U SPORTS win. Waknuk received a plaque from the Pronghorns for the achievement after the game. 

In an interview with the Herald, Waknuk says it was special to get recognition. 

“It’s never the goal, but it’s a bit of the outcome of just sticking to the process. It just means a lot. This program means a lot to me. To have your name amongst the coaches that put so much time and so much into that and be part of that is huge. Like I said that night that it happened, you can’t do it without the players and the people around you.”

Waknuk began his coaching tenure with Lethbridge as an assistant coach in the fall of 2015 under Dave Adams. In October 2018, Waknuk was named the interim head coach of the Pronghorns after Adams was forced to take a medical leave of absence following a training incident while he was preparing for the World Triathlon Championship.

As interim head coach, Waknuk led the Pronghorns to a 12-8 record in the 2018-19 season and a berth in the Canada West semi-finals, the first time that Lethbridge had reached that milestone since 1995.

On Oct. 29, 2019, the Pronghorns removed the interim tag and Waknuk became the 12th head coach in program history.

“When I came in, this program was trying to find its identity.” Waknuk explained. “It had gone a while without kind of figuring out who it was. I think it’s done a good job to find out who that is and what that type of Pronghorn player looks like.”

“We’ve always had to support Southern Alberta, but what’s been fun to see is just it growing and seeing how many people have come out and supported us and continue to support us. I think that’s been pretty fun to watch our program grow. The league itself, it gets better every year. The quality’s better, the top is better. The average player is better. It’s just improving all the time.”

Prior to arriving in Lethbridge, Waknuk had spent 10 seasons with Grand Prairie Regional College (now known as Northwestern Polytechnic) Wolves women’s basketball program including six as head coach. During his first season as head coach in 2009-10, Waknuk led the Wolves to a 21-3 record and their first ACAC championship in over 20 years. 

When asked about his favorite memories coaching in Lethbridge, Waknuk explained that the people are going to be what he remembers for years to come.

“I just think it’s for the individual moments throughout and even for me, still special moments to see where people go. Kacie Bosch, my assistant coach, for me to be able to go watch her compete in the Olympics and know that I coached her here for a number of years. I could go on and on, but I just think it’s really about the people. Those memories are the ones that will stay with me. I’ll forget the box scores or the random game against Winnipeg somewhere. It’s more of the people and the connections you made and you still have.”

Fifth-year guard Kamryn DeKlerk played for Waknuk even before she became a Pronghorn. Waknuk has been involved with Alberta Basketball for several years and it was there that the two first crossed paths. DeKlerk says she enjoys playing for Waknuk because he wants to see players grow as people 

“I’ve had a lot of experience with him and I haven’t had a coach like him before, someone who relates so much to his players and cares about them as people. It just makes you want to play that much harder for him and it’s obviously reflected in him getting that award, so there’s no one more deserving.”

The Pronghorns return to action on Friday night when they play host to the defending national champion University of Saskatchewan Huskies at the Co-op Centre for Sport & Wellness. The women tip off at 6, followed by the men at 8. See Thursday’s Herald for a full weekend preview.