University of Guelph Athletics

The 2025-26 season marks Chris O’Rourke’s 29th season in charge of the men’s basketball program at the University of Guelph. As the longest-tenured head coach in U SPORTS men’s basketball, Chris O’Rourke has served as the driving force behind some of the greatest moments in Gryphons basketball history.
 
In 2003, he coached the Gryphons to the OUA West divisional title and would lead them to a silver medal at both the conference and national championships.

During the 2005-06 season, O’Rourke became just the third Gryphon coach ever to be named OUA West Coach of the year joining Tim Darling (1989-90 & 1994-95) and Gib Chapman (1979-80 & 1980-81). During his tenure as head coach of the Gryphons, Chris O’Rourke has had 22 players named OUA all-stars, three OUA Rookie of the Year recipients, one OUA MVP and two players named U SPORTS All-Canadians. Prior to taking over as head coach in 1997-98, O’Rourke spent three seasons serving as an assistant coach with the Gryphons (1994-95 to 1996-97). Outside of his Gryphon coaching career, O’Rourke also has extensive experience working with the Ontario Basketball Association as well as Canada Basketball.

In 2007, Chris was appointed head coach of Canada's men's basketball team for the 24th Summer Universiade in Thailand, where he led the red and white to a bronze medal. O’Rourke also led Team Canada at the 2009 World University Games in Belgrade, Serbia and served as an assistant coach of Team Canada at the U-21 World Championships in Argentina in 2005.
 
At the provincial level, Chris coached the Ontario Juvenile U-17 team to a pair of national titles in 2000 and 2001.
 
As a player, O’Rourke put together a decorated career with the Gryphons (1989 to 1994). A two-time team captain with the Gryphons, O’Rourke earned OUA West First Team All-Star honours during his senior season and throughout his career established himself as one of the top three-point shooting guards in the country. In the fall of 2015, O’Rourke officially entered the Gryphon Hall of Fame alongside his teammates when the 1989-90 squad was inducted into the 'Team' category for their achievement in capturing just the second OUA men’s basketball title in University of Guelph history.