The TMU Bold men's basketball team (formerly the Ryerson Rams) represents Toronto Metropolitan University in U Sports men's basketball. The team has been active since 1949, and currently compete in the Ontario University Athletics (OUA) conference of U Sports, playing in the OUA Central Division. The team plays its home games at the Mattamy Athletic Centre in Toronto, Ontario.
History The Ryerson Rams first fielded a men's basketball team in 1949, shortly after fielding a hockey team the year prior. The Rams' first coach was A.E. Toogood. Unfortunately, most of the records from this time are lost, so not much is known about his performance as a coach. In his final year of coaching, he had an 11–8 record. After Toogood's departure, all the Rams teams joined the Ontario Intercollegiate Athletic Association (OIAA), where they played against other collegiate teams. The Rams' first coach under the OIAA was Bruce Forsythe. The Rams struggled during these early years, with the 1960–61 season seeing them hold a 1–7 record. Records for this time are still lost, so not much is known about the other seasons played under the OIAA. In 1971, the intercollegiate leagues of Ontario and Quebec were consolidated, which saw the Rams move from the OIAA to the larger Ontario University Athletic Association (OUAA), which kept better records of their seasons. The team's first coach under the OUAA was Ed DeArmon, and by the end of his tenure in 1979, he had posted a 12–92 record. Terry Haggerty took over as head coach in 1981, and lead to the Rams' first ever postseason appearance in 1987, where they won the consolation finals against the York Yeomen. Following this, Haggerty led the Rams to ten straight playoff appearances, including one national appearance in 1999, where they were eliminated in the consolation semifinals by the Bishop's Gaiters. This run also saw the Rams winning the OUAA East Division in the regular season in 1999–2000. Haggerty was hired as the university's sports manager, and was replaced by Patrick Williams as coach. Williams struggled, however, and was soon fired in favour of Glen Taylor in 2005. Haggerty would remain in his position as sports manager until he was fired in 2007, after working in the athletic department for 26 years.
Following Taylor's tenure as coach, the Rams hired Roy Rana, who had previously coached high school basketball teams. Rana's Rams quickly rose to becoming serious contenders, and a CIS powerhouse. The team saw their most productive run under his coaching, making the playoffs every year that he was coach. The Rams made it back to the national championship in 2012, after 13 years, which saw them lose the consolation finals to the Acadia Axemen. The 2014–15 season saw the Rams win their bid to host the 2015 CIS Final 8 championship. at which the team took home their first national bronze medal in program history. Rana took a sabbatical leave in 2015, and so Patrick Tatham took over as head coach in the interim. That season saw the Rams win the OUA conference in the regular season, and brought them to their first Wilson Cup, and second straight CIS Bronze medal. The Rams had also achieved the number one spot on the CIS's weekly rankings for the first time in the program's history, and Ammanuel Diressa, a guard on the team, had been named CIS male athlete of the week. Tatham's performance during this season made him favoured to win the CIS coach of the year award. The year Rana came back, the Rams won the East Division again, and won back-to-back Wilson Cups, as well as being the runner-up to the national championship, losing to the Carleton Ravens. The next two seasons saw the Rams make it to the Wilson Cup finals, losing both times, while they were the runner-ups again in the national championships, coming home with a bronze medal in the 2018–19 season. Following this run of success, which saw a total of six nationals appearances, Rana left the Rams to accept a position as assistant coach to the Sacramento Kings in the NBA at the end of the 2018–19 season. The 2019–20 season saw Borko Popic coaching on an interim basis, leading the Rams to 2nd in the OUA Central Division, and losing in the quarterfinals of the Wilson Cup to the Ottawa Gee-Gees. The 2020–21 season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and when play resumed for the 2021–22 season, the Rams had selected David DeAveiro as the new head coach. DeAveiro had previously served as head coach of the McGill Redbirds men's basketball team. The university changed its name in 2022, and the team name changed to the TMU Bold.
Season-by-season results Note: Records prior to the 1971–72 season are incomplete +Statistics overview Season Team W L PF PA Pts. Standing Postseason 1949–50 A.E. Toogood – – – – – – – 1951–52 A.E. Toogood – – – – – – – 1952–53 A.E. Toogood – – – – – – – 1953–54 A.E. Toogood – – – – – – – 1954–55 A.E. Toogood – – – – – – – 1955–56 A.E. Toogood – – – – – – – 1956–57 A.E. Toogood – – – – – – 1957–58 A.E. Toogood 11 8 – – 22 – – A.E. Toogood: 1958–59 Bruce Forsythe – – – – – – – 1959–60 Bruce Forsythe – – – – – – – Bruce Forsythe: – 1960–61 Ed Trosyck 1 7 – – 2 – – Ed Trosyck: 1960–61 Bruce ForsytheAl Bowman 3 9 – – 6 – – Bruce Forsythe: 1962–63 Al FlemingRon Potter 1 7 – – 2 – – 1963–64 Al Fleming 1 7 – – 2 – – Al Fleming: 1964–65 Angelo DiThomas – – – – – 2nd (East) – 1965–66 Angelo DiThomas – – – – – 4th (East) – 1966–67 Angelo DiThomas – – – – – – – 1967–68 Angelo DiThomas – – – – – – – 1968–69 Angelo DiThomas – – – – – – – 1969–70 Angelo DiThomas – – – – – – – Angelo DiThomas: – 1970–71 Ed DeArmon – – – – – – – 1971–72 Ed DeArmon 0 12 693 1052 0 7th (East) – 1972–73 Ed DeArmon 1 11 697 957 2 7th (East) – 1973–74 Ed DeArmon 4 10 870 1036 8 6th (East) – 1974–75 Ed DeArmon 3 11 901 1098 6 7th (East) – 1975–76 Ed DeArmon 2 12 964 1159 4 7th (East) – 1976–77 Ed DeArmon 2 12 889 1295 4 7th (East) – 1977–78 Ed DeArmon 0 12 674 930 0 7th (East) – 1978–79 Ed DeArmon 0 12 685 1215 0 7th (East) – Ed DeArmon: 1979–80 Phil Schlote 0 12 647 1090 0 7th (East) – 1980–81 Phil Schlote 2 10 838 1021 4 7th (East) – Phil Schlote: 1981–82 Terry Haggerty 0 12 736 1082 0 7th (East) – 1982–83 Terry Haggerty 2 12 945 1268 4 7th (East) – 1983–84 Terry Haggerty 2 12 934 1237 4 7th (East) – 1984–85 Terry Haggerty 7 12 1179 1178 14 5th (East) – 1985–86 Terry Haggerty 5 9 992 1092 10 6th (East) – 1986–87 Terry Haggerty 6 6 964 990 12 4th (East) OUAA East Semifinalist 1987–88 Terry Haggerty 0 12 746 975 0 7th (East) – 1988–89 Terry Haggerty 1 17 1236 1491 2 5th (Central) – 1989–90 Terry Haggerty 4 14 1444 1818 8 5th (Central) – 1990–91 Terry Haggerty 1 14 1032 1341 2 5th (Central) – 1991–92 Terry Haggerty 2 13 903 1240 4 5th (Central) – 1992–93 Terry Haggerty 4 8 931 1081 8 5th (East) – 1993–94 Terry Haggerty 9 3 1023 923 18 2nd (East) OUAA East Finalist 1994–95 Terry Haggerty 7 5 973 922 14 3rd (East) OUAA East Finalist 1995–96 Terry Haggerty 6 6 991 973 12 4th (East) OUAA East Semifinalist 1996–97 Terry Haggerty 11 9 1548 1528 22 4th (East) OUAA East Semifinalist 1997–98 Terry Haggerty 10 10 1409 1402 20 4th (East) OUA East Semifinalist 1998–99 Terry Haggerty 10 10 1495 1544 20 4th (East) OUA Finalist; CIAU Final 8 1999–2000 Terry Haggerty 17 3 1671 1474 34 1st (East) OUA East Semifinalist 2000–01 Terry Haggerty 14 8 1597 1453 28 3rd (East) OUA East Semifinalist 2001–02 Terry Haggerty 14 8 1577 1597 28 3rd (East) OUA East Semifinalist 2002–03 Terry Haggerty 8 14 1465 1527 16 5th (East) OUA East Semifinalist Terry Haggerty: 2003–04 Patrick Williams 0 22 1283 1669 0 8th (East) – 2004–05 Patrick Williams 1 21 1316 1657 2 8th (East) – Patrick Williams: 2005–06 Glen Taylor 3 19 1458 1653 6 7th (East) – 2006–07 Glen Taylor 6 16 1466 1679 12 7th (East) – 2007–08 Glen Taylor 7 15 1658 1772 14 6th (East) OUA East Quarterfinalist 2008–09 Glen Taylor 12 10 1751 1749 24 4th (East) OUA East Quarterfinalist Glen Taylor: 2009–10 Roy Rana 10 12 1587 1635 20 5th (East) OUA East Quarterfinalist 2010–11 Roy Rana 11 11 1748 1752 22 4th (East) OUA East Semifinalist 2011–12 Roy Rana 13 9 1718 1607 26 2nd (East) OUA Finalist; CIS Final 8 2012–13 Roy Rana 15 5 1529 1339 30 3th (East) OUA East Semifinalist 2013–14 Roy Rana 16 6 1710 1516 32 3th (East) OUA East Semifinalist 2014–15 Roy Rana 17 2 1697 1249 34 3rd; 1st (East) OUA Semifinalist; CIS Bronze Medalist 2015–16 Roy RanaPatrick Tatham (interim) 17 2 1696 1402 34 1st OUA Champion; CIS Bronze Medalist 2016–17 Roy Rana 17 2 1685 1284 34 3rd; 1st (East) OUA Champion; U Sports Runner–up 2017–18 Roy Rana 17 6 1876 1687 34 3rd (East) OUA Finalist; U Sports Runner–up 2018–19 Roy Rana 21 2 1993 1459 42 2nd (East) OUA Finalist; U Sports Bronze Roy Rana: 2019–20 Borko Popic (interim) 16 6 1945 1585 32 2nd (Central) OUA Quarterfinalist Borko Popic (interim): 2020–21 Season canceled due to COVID-19 pandemic 2021–22 David DeAveiro 8 6 1184 1118 16 4th (East) OUA Quarterfinalist 2022–23 David DeAveiro 14 8 1834 1674 28 3rd (Central) OUA Quarterfinalist 2023–24 David DeAveiro 13 9 1790 1659 26 2nd (Central) OUA Quarterfinalist 2024–25 David DeAveiro 15 7 1783 1514 30 2nd (Central) OUA Semifinalist 2025–26 David DeAveiro 17 5 1823 1493 34 2nd (Central) OUA Champion; U Sports Final 8 David DeAveiro: Total:
Postseason results The TMU Bold made it to the postseason in 28 seasons. In all of those seasons, the Bold played in the Wilson Cup playoffs, and in 7 of those seasons, the team made it to the national Final 8 playoffs.
OUA Wilson Cup The TMU Bold have appeared in the OUA's Wilson Cup playoffs 28 times, winning 2 titles. 1987 QuarterfinalsConsolation Round LaurentianYork L 78–83W 91–78 1994 QuarterfinalsSemifinals TorontoLaurentian W 72–52L 73–85 1995 QuarterfinalsSemifinals LaurentianToronto W 101–91L 73–79 1996 Quarterfinals Toronto L 82–102 1997 Quarterfinals Laurentian L 75–81 1998 Quarterfinals Laurentian L 64–88 1999 QuarterfinalsSemifinalsChampionship LaurentianCarletonWestern W 74–66W 50–44L 70–87 2000 Quarterfinals Queen's L 69–73 2001 First Round York L 59–69 2002 First RoundQuarterfinals OttawaYork W 71–67L 53–59 2003 First RoundQuarterfinals LaurentianCarleton W 85–67L 57–70 2008 First Round Ottawa L 49–76 2009 First Round York L 69–71 2010 First Round Queen's L 76–79OT 2011 First RoundQuarterfinals YorkCarleton W 80–70L 73–97 2012 QuarterfinalsSemifinalsChampionship OttawaLakeheadCarleton W 74–71W 86–70L 39–82 2013 First RoundQuarterfinals YorkOttawa W 83–77L 70–74 2014 First RoundQuarterfinals Queen'sOttawa W 86–76L 78–79 2015 QuarterfinalsSemifinalsBronze Medal LaurierCarletonOttawa W 105–59L 80–84L 66–79 2016 QuarterfinalsSemifinalsChampionship LakeheadWindsorCarleton W 93–71W 96–77W 73–68 2017 QuarterfinalsSemifinalsChampionship OttawaNipissingCarleton W 87–62W 76–75W 86–79 2018 First RoundQuarterfinalsSemifinalsChampionship Queen'sOttawaBrockCarleton W 103–79W 77–69W 69–63L 58–84 2019 QuarterfinalsSemifinalsChampionship OttawaLaurierCarleton W 84–61W 99–84L 61–81 2020 First RoundQuarterfinals GuelphOttawa W 109–63L 54–75 2022 First RoundQuarterfinals LaurentianCarleton W 92–61L 68–87 2023 QuarterfinalsSemifinals McMasterOttawa W 104–92L 72–73 2024 Quarterfinals McMaster L 67–74 2025 First RoundQuarterfinalsSemifinals GuelphWesternOttawa W 89–63W 101–78L 56–89 2026 QuarterfinalsSemifinalsChampionship GuelphBrockCarleton W 82–75W 77–64W 66–56
U Sports Final 8 The TMU Bold have appeared in the U Sports men's basketball championship 7 times.