Vic Pruden began coaching in 1957 when he coached the Isaac Newton High School Juvenile boy's team to a Provincial Championship. Since then, Vic has had a successful coaching record (win/loss record of + .700) at the high school, university, provincial and national levels.
In eight years of coaching varsity boys at the high school level, Vic's teams won five provincial championships: Sisler "Spartans" in 1958 and the Vincent Massey "Trojans" of Ft. Garry in 1961, 1962, 1964, and 1965. In 1963, the "Trojans" were Provincial Finalists.
In 1966, Vic started the intercollegiate men's program at United College, becoming the University of Winnipeg in 1967. In 1972, he started the women's intercollegiate program; that team won the Provincial Senior championship and, because all of the young women on the team were eligible to play Junior, the team entered and won the National Junior Championship. Vic continued to coach the women for seven years. During that time they were G.P.A.C. Conference Conference Finalists in 1973, Conference Champions in 1974, '75, '76, '77, '78, and 1979, and National Intercollegiate Finalists in 1977 and 1978.
In the late 1970's, Vic coached the National Junior Women's Team for two consecutive years. Six players from this development program became starters with the National Women's Team.
In 1990, Vic coached the Manitoba Provincial women's team to a silver medal in the Western Canada Games.
In addition to coaching, Vic devoted a great deal of time to basketball development. He was a founder and organizer of The Fort Garry Invitational Tournament (F.G.I.T.), the University of Winnipeg Wesmen Classic (originally the Golden Boy Tournament). He started the University of Winnipeg Summer Basketball School and the Royal Canadian Legion Basketball Camp at the Peace Gardens. He was also a founder and the first President of the Manitoba Basketball Coaches' Association.
In 1987, Vic wrote "A CONCEPTUAL APPROACH TO BASKETBALL", published in 1987 by Human Kinetics, Champaign, Illinois. Shortly after, he developed a 4-on-4 developmental basketball game for boys and girls under 13.
b. January 12,
1935
