Front Office

Corporate Operations

General Manager & President: Ian McCarthy

Ian McCarthy has worked in the professional basketball setting for several years. He has founded several franchises; served as Business Director, General Manager & Director of Basketball Operations, Scout, as well as Head Associate Coach, Head Coach, and also Assistant Coach.

He was named General Manager of the Year in the ABA (2008), and teams under his tutelage and direction have reached multiple final fours, won multiple tournament championships, and featured numerous award winning coaches and players.

Off the court Ian serves as an international ambassador of goodwill for the game of basketball, reaching out to and partnering with overseas champions such as the Sta. Lucia Realtors (Philippines), the Capitanes de Arecibo (Puerto Rico), the Beijing Aoshen (China/Singapore), and the Sendai 89ers (Japan). 

Ian is one of the co-founders of the National Basketball League of Canada and currently serves as Chief Operating Officer of the League.

Vice President of Marketing:  David Cooper

David Cooper has been in Sports Marketing for many years. He was the founder of Net Time Marketing, a marketing firm that consulted with professional athletes throughout the United States and Canada. During this tenor he recruited, trained and developed over 350 consultants, hosted seminars as a motivational speaker and life coach, and mentored amateur and professional athletes.

In addition to his business prowess he was a co-founder of “ Bishop Elite, a non for profit organization that worked with over 175 inner city youth in the aspects of social, academic, and physical development and aided in the placement of many student athletes in College & Universities.

Aside from business and sport, his passion lies between the lines where he has coached, trained, and developed amateur, collegiate, and NBA players for over ten years. He has served as a head coach on the High School and Collegiate level and continues professional skill and development.

Vice President of Public Relations:  Carl White  

This is Carl White's second season joining the team as the VP of Communications. Carl is a native of Saint John, who served on common council from 1998-2008, including one term as Deputy Mayor. His role is to act as a community liaison, working with business, corporate and non-profit partners. 

White, who is employed as a Human Rights officer, served as president of Saint John's touch football league for 20 years and coached senior boys basketball at Harbour View High for two years. He was a member of the committees that brought two Canadian Football League exhibition games and one NBA exhibition contest to Saint John.

He was also Assistant Venue Manager for track and field during the 1985 Canada Summer Games in Saint John and more recently served as chairman of the New Brunswick Sports Hall of Fame induction event committee for the 40th annual induction banquet held in the Port City in 2009 and was appointed to the Board of Governors of the Hall the same year. 

White also currently serves on an Advisory Committee to the Commissioner of the RCMP and is a Board member of the Boys and Girls Club of Saint John.  

Game Day Operations:  Carissa Cooper

Carissa Cooper has worked in marketing, sales and sports management for many years. She has also spent time in corporate management for several different industries, including food & beverage, retail, health & wellness and entertainment. She assisted in the planning, coordination and execution of basketball organizations, tournaments, camps, clinics, and personal development.

She is also the other half (some might say better) to husband and Head Coach, David Cooper. In the summer of 2012, they both welcomed a precious little girl, Cardavia, into the world. 

Social Media Manager, Media Relations & Sponsorships:  Apryll Stansfield

A graduate of Mount Allison University, Apryll Stansfield first started her Marketing & Communications experience with direct marketing companies such as Mosaic & GMR Marketing. At MTA, she often wrote game recaps and articles on the Women’s Varsity Volleyball Team for University Newspaper,  The Argosy.

Prior to joining the Mill Rats, she worked with The Momentum Group as Office Manager at the Saint John office location. She was heavily involved with sponsorship & public relations, marketing, promoting, sales and event planning.

A former Canada Games athlete, she has been highly involved with athletics all through life. Working with the Mill Rats allows her to combine her love for basketball, twitter, entertainment, writing and all things social! Follow her on Twitter @ApryllAileen 

Carol Kelly: Corporate Partnerships

Carol was instrumental as the partner responsible for business development in two successful start-up companies; CRG Atlantic division and Strophe. Having grown up with a successful entrepreneur father, Will Kelly, the DPL Group, she learned that persistence and patience are key attributes to becoming successful.

Carol is an experienced Business Development Manager and a Professional Engineer. In her career she had the pleasure of presenting to NATO and won many Microsoft Business Solutions sales awards. As a trained sales professional, she is now taking her efforts to help build a successful local Mill Rats Basketball team and National League.

In the off time, she is a taxi driver for her 13 year old daughter Megan and 10 year old son Gregor. Carol is a go-getter with integrity, drive and an incredible ability to never give up. Carol now lives in the heart of Uptown Saint John. 

Marketing & Advertising

The Wright Agency 

The Official Advertising Agency of the Saint John Mill Rats. Specialists in business-to-consumer advertising and marketing; serving clients throughout Canada.

GameDay Operations

Carissa Cooper - GameDay Operations Manager

Tiffany McCarthy - Entertainment Coordinator

Selma Kilisli - Game Host

Jessica Royan - Assistant GameDay Operations

Mike Belyea - Music DJ

Peter McDevitt - P.A. Announcer 

Tiffany McCarthy owned and operated her own business and sold it in 2003. She is a licensed aesthetician. Tiffany also managed two retail stores in New Hampshire.

She runs the Dance Team Auditions and oversees all aspects of the Dance Team from designing the uniforms to creating the themes for their routines. She is the head of all entertainment at the Mill Rat Games.