Nelson Terroba, the Calgary Surge's first head coach, is stepping down after just one season with the team

Ambitions are high for the Calgary Surge this season, but the basketball club must try to build on last year's championship win without head coach Nelson Terroba.

The city's Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) team announced Friday that Terroba will not be returning in 2024.

He signed a one-year deal with the team in December, making him one of three coaches to sign full-time positions in the CEBL at the time.

“Nelson has been instrumental in our successful first season,” said Surge General Manager Shane James.

“While this is a bittersweet moment for our organization, we can't wait to see what he does in the next chapter of his career.”

Terroba, the bench boss in the Surge's inaugural season, led the team to the championship game where they came up just a few buckets short of the title against the Scarborough Shooting Stars.

The appearance comes after a 12-8 regular season record that saw the Surge finish atop the league's Western Conference.

Terroba comes to Calgary after serving as an assistant coach with the Texas Legends in his home state of the NBA G-League. He previously spent time in the CEBL as an assistant head coach for the Saskatchewan Rattlers.

He will return to Texas to pursue a coaching opportunity in that state. The team said it had no further details on Terroba's next role.

“The organization wishes Coach Terroba nothing but the best as he embarks on this new endeavor,” the Surge said in a statement.

“Working with him has been very special and we are grateful for all he has contributed to the Surge and the Calgary community.”

A Surge spokesperson told CBC News a new head coach is “expected to be announced shortly.”