Empowering Athletes 
Ottawa Capitals JUEL is excited to have Coaches on board to work together to develop our players both on and off the court. Coaching is a demanding but rewarding job, and we appreciate all the time and effort our Coaches put in to help our athletes reach their full potential. Ottawa Capitals JUEL Coaches will have the opportunity to make a positive impact on the lives of our players and help them grow as both athletes and individuals. Their dedication and passion for the game will inspire their team to work hard and strive for success. We are confident that with their guidance and leadership, Ottawa Capitals players will continue to improve and achieve their goals. Thank you again for joining us this season – let's make it a great one!
OTTAWA CAPITALS JUEL COACHING STAFF
DEAN PETRIDIS - Director of Basketball Operations and Development / Head Coach Ottawa Capitals JUEL
Dean Petridis has been an Assistant Coach with the Carleton Basketball programs for close to 20 years. He has most recently been with the women’s program for the last 5 years winning 2 National titles to add to his 12 National titles with the men’s program. His history with the Ravens dates back even further when he first started playing for the Carleton Ravens in 1997. He graduated from Carleton University in 2001 with a Bachelor of Commerce. After ending his playing career with Carleton, Petridis has also become a staple in the coaching community at grassroots levels in Ottawa, coaching several high school teams and club teams winning several OFFSAA and provincial medals. In 2006 Petridis became Head coach of Team Ontario U17 team, winning the National Championship. Most recently he has coached with Ottawa Elite and then with Ottawa Capitals JUEL, accepting to lead the newly created Ottawa Capitals JUEL ACADEMY team for the inaugural season. Dean is also the Director of Basketball Operations and Development for the Ottawa Capitals JUEL program.
HADEZA ISMAILA - Assistant Coach Ottawa Capitals JUEL
Hadeza began her post-secondary basketball career at Algonquin College, where she earned OCAA All-Rookie Team and First Team All-Star honours in her debut season. After graduating, she continued both her academic and athletic journey at Ontario Tech University, pursuing a degree in Political Science while competing at the OUA level for four seasons.
Following the completion of her undergraduate degree with honours, Ismaila returned home to Ottawa and joined the Carleton Ravens Women’s Basketball program while enrolling in a Master’s degree in Law & Legal Studies. In her final year of eligibility, she was a member of the Ravens squad that captured the 2023-24 U SPORTS National Championship.
Transitioning into coaching, Ismaila joined the Carleton Ravens Women’s Basketball coaching staff and also served as an Assistant Coach with the Ottawa Capitals JUEL Academy team. She brings a wealth of playing experience, academic excellence, and a passion for player development to every program she is a part of.
KRIS VANDERVEER - Assistant Coach Ottawa Capitals JUEL
Kris played basketball at the University of Guelph, where he was a three-year team captain, league all-star, and Academic All-Canadian. With more than 25 years of coaching experience, he has worked at the university level (University of Guelph), high school level (Merivale High School), and within the club system (Ottawa Shooting Stars, Nepean Blue Devils). Over the years, he has coached athletes ranging in age from 5 to 25.
As a coach, Kris values hard work, discipline, and defensive pride. He finds it most rewarding when players recognize the power of teamwork and what they can accomplish together on the court. Passionate about the growth of the game, he has been excited to see women’s basketball rise in popularity and hopes that all players carry their love of the sport long after their competitive years.
CHRIS TESSIER - Head Coach Ottawa Capitals JUEL Prep
With 19 years of experience coaching girls’ and women’s basketball in the Ottawa area, Chris has led teams across multiple organizations, including Ottawa South Basketball, Goulbourn Basketball, Ottawa Elite, and Ottawa Capitals. Over the past seven seasons, he has been a key figure within the JUEL League, serving in both Head Coach and Assistant Coach roles at the JUEL Prep level, and most recently as Head Coach of the Ottawa Capitals JUEL program for the past two seasons.
Beyond club play, Chris has twice served as an Assistant Coach for Team Ontario at the Ontario Summer Games, winning gold in 2014. Internationally, he has represented the JUEL League on three occasions at the Gillian Brazier Basketball Tournament in Antigua, coaching and competing against top international talent.
Holding NCCP Level Two certification and Safe Sport training, Chris is committed to continuous professional development. With a passion for athlete growth both on and off the court, Chris brings experience, leadership, and a deep commitment to the development of young women in sport.
AMANDA SMITH - Assistant Coach Ottawa Capitals JUEL Prep
Amanda Smith brings a wealth of experience as both a player and a coach to the basketball community.
As a student-athlete, Amanda played five seasons (2008–2013) with the Saint Mary’s University Women’s Basketball Program. During her time with the Huskies, she was recognized as Female Rookie of the Year (2008–2009) and earned Defensive Player of the Tournament honors in 2011. She capped off her playing career by helping lead Saint Mary’s to an Atlantic University Sport (AUS) Championship in 2013 and a third-place finish at the CIS National Championship that same year.
Following her university career, Amanda transitioned into coaching, beginning as Head Coach of the KW Lightning JUEL Prep team (2013–2014). She later returned to the sidelines as an Assistant Coach with the Gloucester Wolverines (2018–2019), where she continued to share her knowledge, passion, and competitive experience with the next generation of athletes.
Amanda is committed to developing players on and off the court, bringing strong defensive principles, leadership skills, and a championship mindset to every team she works with.
MACKENZIE ASH-SMITH - Player Development Coach
Mackenzie Ash-Smith is a former player turned coach, having played in NCAA Division 1 at Appalachian State and for Carleton Ravens Women's Basketball Team. She then began her coaching career in 2022 as an Assistant Coach with Carleton women’s basketball program. Mackenzie is the former Head Coach of the Ottawa Capitals Juel Prep program and has been coaching with the Ottawa Capitals and Ottawa Elite since 2022. She has a passion for developing young talent at all levels.
SIDNEY KAMERBEEK - Team Building and Wellness Co-ordinator
After 6 years of coaching under the mentorship of Dave Malowski, Sidney stepped into her first Head Coaching role with Ottawa Elite's U16 JUEL Prep Team for the 2022-2023 season. Sidney went on to coach the Ottawa Capitals JUEL Prep team for the 2023-24 and 2024-25 seasons.
Sidney's coaching philosophy centers on the understanding that the athlete's time in sport is limited and that high-level athletics should support growth both on and off the court. She is passionate about developing confident, well-rounded athletes and takes pride in helping young women grow through the game.
Grateful for the opportunity to learn from and lead the next generation of athletes, Sidney looks forward to continuing this journey as the Ottawa Capitals' Team Building and Wellness Co-ordinator.