Robert Sacre Returns to the Bandits as Senior Advisor

LANGLEY, B.C., February 25, 2022 – The Fraser Valley Bandits announced Friday that former Los Angeles Laker and Gonzaga Bulldog, Robert Sacre, is returning to the front office of British Columbia’s professional basketball team in an expanded role as senior advisor to the president, Dylan Kular.

This will be Sacre’s second season with the club. He was previously announced as the club’s assistant general manager on March 11, 2021 ahead of Fraser Valley’s third season in the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL).

“A key part of our team culture in Fraser Valley is continuity. Rob proved to be an important member of our front office last season because of his charisma, international network of current and former players, as well as his sports business acumen. I am thrilled to welcome him back,” Kular said.

“Rob has played in sold-out venues around the globe and continues to maintain relationships with coaches, as well as front office executives of leading international clubs. Through these connections and experiences, Rob has helped build bridges for the Bandits and this new role will allow him to continue to do so with increased emphasis on the business development side of our organization.”

Together with general manager Kyle Julius, Sacre focused last season on liaising with prospective players and agents and supporting the Bandits’ efforts to build pivotal relationships throughout BC and Canada’s basketball communities.

In his new role as senior advisor to the president, Sacre’s job scope has been broadened to give the former NBA and Team Canada centre the opportunity to provide insight on both basketball operations and business development, including game day experience, sponsorship activations and player wellness programs.

Fraser Valley announced its relocation to Langley Events Centre (LEC) last September ahead of its fourth CEBL season. The move has resulted in strong growth in key areas of the organization, including sponsorship, season ticket sales and community development. 

Now located in the heart of the Fraser Valley and Lower Mainland at LEC, an integral goal of the Bandits is to establish deeper connections with local basketball clubs and leaders, and to expand Fraser Valley’s brand presence throughout British Columbia and beyond. 

“The Bandits envision a roster that is dedicated on both sides of the ball and works together to put on a show for fans. There is a clear mandate in the front office to build a culture that is inviting for both local businesses and corporate clients of all sizes,” Sacre said.

“In this new role, I am looking forward to channeling my experience as a player and my connections in the Canadian and international business communities that I have built throughout my career to help the Bandits foster relationships with new players and organizations, both in Canada and abroad.”

Sacre’s insight is derived from a decorated playing career that has seen the former 2006 AAA provincial champion (Handsworth Secondary) and MVP achieve success on the biggest basketball stages, both in British Columbia, across North America and overseas. Notable achievements include five consecutive trips to the NCAA March Madness tournament (2008-12), playing alongside Kobe Bryant as a member of the Lakers (2012-16) and representing Canada’s senior men’s national team at the 2010 FIBA World Championship in Turkey and 2015 FIBA Americas Championship in Mexico.

The final stop of Sacre’s illustrious playing career saw the North Vancouver native play for Sunrockers Shibuya from 2016-2019 in Japan’s B.League. Sacre averaged 17.5 points and 8.5 rebounds per game on 48.9 per cent shooting from field goal range before retiring from professional play in the summer of 2019 and returning to Spokane, Wash. He left a cemented legacy in Japan as a fan favourite thanks to his dedication to making community appearances, engaging with fans and his all-star level of play. In his final season, Sacre scored 44 and 46 points in consecutive games.

Since retiring, Sacre completed his master’s degree in organizational leadership at Gonzaga and continues to be a contributing facet of the Bulldogs community, co-hosting the “Sac and Jack” podcast with fellow Gonzaga alumnus Jack Ferris.

Season tickets for Fraser Valley’s highly anticipated season at Langley Events Centre (LEC) are on sale now at thebandits.ca/tickets. Fans are kindly asked to call (604) 866-0529 or email tickets@thebandits.ca for any questions or ticket related inquiries. Fans can also fill out this form to register their interest and be contacted directly by a team representative.

Fraser Valley opens its season on the road on Wednesday, May 25 at 4:30 p.m. PT against the Ottawa BlackJacks. Following a three-game road swing to open the year, the Bandits will make their debut at LEC against the Saskatchewan Rattlers on Saturday, June 4 at 2 p.m. PT.

All CEBL regular season games will be livestreamed on the free CBC Gem streaming service, cbcsports.ca, the CBC Sports app for iOS and Android devices and CEBL+.

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