Gemini (Gary) Aloka’i Zuko

Accomplished basketball coach with over 25 years of experience leading championship-caliber women's and men's teams at professional, collegiate, and national levels. Former professional athlete and PhD Candidate in Human Performance, bringing a holistic, culturally responsive, and academically grounded approach to fostering elite student-athlete development and consistent program success. Proven ability to build inclusive, high-performance team cultures that achieve consistent playoff appearances and multiple undefeated seasons.

• Championship Program Leadership
• Holistic Athlete Development
• Strategic Recruitment & Talent Identification
• Inclusive Team Culture Building
• Community Engagement & Program Advocacy

• Never recorded a losing season in over 25 years of coaching.
• Achieved multiple undefeated regular seasons and consistent playoff appearances at every level.
• Secured championship victories at high school, university, and national levels.
• Managed all facets of program operations, including logistics, marketing, training, and budget, often as a one-person resource.
• Longstanding (20-year) collaboration with University of Alberta and Rocky Mountain Basketball on summer talent development programs.

• Head Coach, Women's Basketball, Ambrose University, Calgary, AB
• Head Coach, Women's Basketball, Concordia University, Edmonton, AB
• Head Coach, University Basketball, Sunway University, Malaysia

• Head Coach, Malaysia Women’s National Team, 01/01/17 - 12/31/20
• Head Coach, Vietnam National Men’s Team, 01/01/11 - 12/31/14
• Assistant Coach, Saigon Heat, 01/01/11 - 12/31/16
• Assistant Coach, Bahamas National Men’s Team, 01/01/94 - 12/31/96

• Specialized in individualized programming for athletes and staff, informed by special needs education experience and human performance research.
• Extensive experience coaching women’s basketball at multiple levels, alongside over 30 years of combined men's and women's program leadership.
• Fostered inclusive, high-performing teams across diverse cultures and genders.

• PhD Candidate, Human Performance, Decolonizing Sport Science
• UFC Master Trainer, Asia, 01/01/15 - Present
• College Professor, Kinesiology, Sports Science, and Education, Northwestern Polytechnic, 01/01/21 - Present

• Instructional leadership, staff mentorship, and professional development.
• Strategic planning, comprehensive budgeting, and meticulous scheduling.
• Cultivated strong community partnerships, with a notable focus on Indigenous communities and athletic development.
• Multilingual and culturally fluent communicator, effective in diverse global contexts.
• Founder of ZESP (Zoo Extreme Sports Performance), Southeast Asia (2010–2020).
• Demonstrated success in fundraising and innovative program development.

• Humanitarian Award – Zibo, China (for English program in rural schools)
• National Head Coach – Malaysia Women’s National Team
• National Head Coach – Vietnam Men’s National Team
• UFC Asia Master Trainer
• Director of Operations – National Basketball League, Malaysia

• PhD Candidate, Human Performance, Decolonizing Sport Science
• M.Ed., Exercise Science, Health & PE, University of Victoria
• B.Ed., Special Education & Humanities, University of Alberta
• B.P.E., Outdoor Education & Athletic Administration, University of Alberta
• Diploma in Coaching, NIKE Basketball, UNLV

Health and Physical Education Council of Alberta