Tyrelle “Coach Tye” Appleton brings a dynamic blend of business leadership, grassroots passion, and elite creative strategy to his new role as Club Director of Rush Basketball. With over eight years of experience in sports, esports, and brand building, Coach Tye has led partnerships with global brands like Dell Technologies, Epic Games, and Team Liquid, and produced award-winning campaigns — including Stephen Curry’s “Run The Ring,” winner of the 2024 Webby Award.

Born to inspire and build community through sport, Coach Tye has deep roots in basketball and athlete development. As General Manager at The Rec44, he elevated one of Toronto’s top basketball hubs, collaborating with NBA player Andrew Nicholson and connecting with major events like HoopQueens, BallDontStop, and the Scottie Barnes Subway Classic. His work helped transform Rec44 into a vital destination for athletes across the city.

Coach Tye is also a professor at Algoma University, where he is pioneering Canada’s collegiate esports education movement. Under his leadership, programs have recruited over 100 students, engaged 3,000+ participants, and generated more than $5 million in tuition and scholarships.

With a Bachelor’s in Sports Management and an MBA, Coach Tye brings a strategic, intentional, and high-performance mindset to everything he does. At Rush, he’s committed to building a positive culture that inspires young athletes to reach their full potential, in sport and beyond. Coach Tye can be reached at tye@rushbasketball.ca.