2026 Coach/Official Inductee - Ed Freeburn
Ed Freeburn has made an enduring impact on basketball and school sport in Wallaceburg and the surrounding region through decades of dedicated coaching, leadership, and athlete development. Freeburn began his coaching career at the elementary level, where he coached basketball, volleyball, track, and cross country from 1988 to 1996, introducing young athletes to organized sport while emphasizing fundamentals, teamwork and sportsmanship.
He went on to spend 23 years at Ursuline College Chatham, contributing across a wide range of secondary school athletics. During his tenure, Ed coached football, volleyball, shot put and javelin, while making his greatest and most lasting impact in basketball. He coached boys’ and girls’ teams at the midget, junior, and senior levels, building strong, competitive programs rooted in discipline, skill development, and respect for the game.
Ed's teams enjoyed sustained success, winning multiple elementary and secondary county championships, highlighted by an exceptional four-year run of county titles at the senior girl’s basketball level. His programs also achieved success beyond the county level, capturing multiple SWOSSAA championships and earning a silver medal at the OFSAA level, one of the highest accomplishments in Ontario high school sport.
Beyond school competition, Ed played a pivotal role in the growth of girls’ basketball in the community. He developed and led a highly successful girls’ basketball camp at Ursuline College Chatham that ran for many years. Along with Tom and Lorri Moynihan, he was the founding coach of girls travel basketball within the Basketball Wallaceburg program. He also coached multiple teams in both the Wallaceburg and Chatham OBA programs, highlighted by winning an OBA championship in 2005 with the Wallaceburg AirHawks.
In recognition of his excellence and leadership, Ed Freeburn was named coach of the year by the Wallaceburg Sports Hall of Fame in 2006. His legacy as a coach, mentor, and builder has shaped generations of athletes and left a lasting mark on basketball in Wallaceburg and Chatham.