OSHAWA, Ont. - Durham College women's basketball head coach Warren Williams has officially announced the program's assistant coaching staff for the 2026-27 season, retaining Emily Balkissoon and welcoming Omari Wiltshire to the bench.

The duo brings a mix of recent playing experience, institutional knowledge, and decades of coaching expertise as the Lords begin preparations for the upcoming season.

"Emily understands what it means to wear the green and gold, and Omari brings a proven track record of building culture and success. Together, they're going to play a big role in where we're headed," said Williams.

A familiar face within the Durham College Athletics department, Balkissoon remains in her assistant coaching role two seasons after concluding her playing career with the Lords.

The Scarborough native began her playing career at Seneca Polytechnic, where she played two seasons with the Sting.

Balkissoon joined the Lords for the 2024-25 season, where she wore No. 11 and made an immediate impact. The Project Management student averaged 9.2 points and 3.3 rebounds per game, adding 30 assists, 28 made threes and 21 steals on the season.

"Durham has given me so much as a student-athlete, so to be part of the coaching staff is really special. I'm excited to keep building relationships with the players and help create an environment where they can grow, compete, and feel proud to represent this program," said Balkissoon.

As a student-athlete, Emily received OCAA All-Rookie Team and Seneca Women's Basketball MVP honours, as well as OCAA All-Academic and CCAA National Scholar recognitions at Durham for her efforts in the classroom.

Following her playing career, Balkissoon stepped into a coaching role at the start of the 2025-26 season. She remained a steady presence through a midseason transition and took on increased leadership responsibilities, helping guide the team through the final stretch of the campaign.

On January 13, she served as acting head coach in a road game against Centennial, leading Durham to a 53-45 victory, an early example of her composure and leadership on the sideline.

Now entering her second full season on staff, Balkissoon brings a unique perspective as a recent student-athlete and a coach.

Wiltshire joins the Lords with an extensive coaching résumé and a long-standing commitment to athlete development at every level of the game.

A respected coach and community leader, Wiltshire brings more than 20 years of experience across grassroots, collegiate, and high-performance environments. He most recently served as head coach of the George Brown Huskies women's basketball program.

During his tenure, Wiltshire's efforts were recognized with OCAA East Division Coach of the Year honours in 2024.

Prior to becoming head coach, Wiltshire spent three seasons as an assistant with George Brown under Williams, where the program posted an impressive 42-8 record.

"I'm excited to join Durham and be part of what Coach Williams is building," said Wiltshire. "My focus has always been on developing confident, well-rounded athletes, and I'm looking forward to helping this group grow both on and off the court."

His coaching background also includes time with Centennial College from 2008 to 2011, as well as decades of involvement with Raptors Basketball Development and Point Guard College.

Beyond the collegiate level, Wiltshire has dedicated more than two decades to developing young athletes through the Scarborough Blues Basketball Association, working with girls' programs from U12 through U19. His approach emphasizes skill development, confidence-building, and using basketball as a platform for personal growth and community impact.

With Balkissoon and Wiltshire in place, Williams and his staff will spend the summer months preparing the Lords for the 2026-27 campaign.

The new season is set to tip off in October, with the full schedule expected to be released later this summer.

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