TORONTO – In celebration of International Women's Day, U SPORTS is proud to announce 18 former student-athletes have been selected for the 2022-23 U SPORTS Female Apprentice Coach Program.
Leading this year's class for the program's third iteration is Barbara Mervin of Victoria.
"I am thrilled that Barbara will be part of the Coach Apprenticeship Program next year, and that I get to continue working with her," began Women's Rugby Head Coach
Brittany Waters. "Barbara is a great coach with tons of passion, and has been an integral part of the Vikes' success. This program will ensure more opportunities for Barbara and I to grow as coaches and leaders."
Mervin was a member of the Western Mustangs rugby team from 2002-2005, earning two national championships in 2004 and 2005. Mervin was selected as the CIS 2002 Rookie of the Year and 2005 Player of the Year. Mervin continued at the international level as part of the 2010, 2014 and 2017 World Cup teams for Rugby Canada and earned a Rugby World Cup silver medal in 2014. In 2015, Mervin was awarded the Gillian Florence award for being the player who best represents the qualities of Canadian rugby as voted by her teammates and was inducted to the Rugby Canada Hall of Fame as a member of the 2014 World Cup squad.
The program aims to increase the number of females in coaching positions across Canadian universities, by matching apprentice coaches who have recently graduated, with a head coach in one of the 11 U SPORTS-sanctioned sport offerings for female-identifying student-athletes.
"We're excited to continue to build upon our Female Apprentice Coach Program," said Jennifer Smart, Director of Sport at U SPORTS. "Despite the unprecedented COVID-related challenges faced in the first two years of the program, this initiative has already proved to provide the tools and atmosphere needed to open new doors and further coaching development in the U SPORTS ecosystem in the name of equity and diversity. This program is built to foster the success of our proud alumnae who look to become coaches themselves in the future."
A total of 37 applications were received for the 2022-23 edition of the program, with 18 apprentice coaches selected for the third consecutive year. Eight
of the 11 sports are represented – including football, rugby, soccer, cross country, track and field, hockey, basketball and volleyball– as well as all four U SPORTS member conferences.
All participants in the program will be a member of the coaching staff at their respective schools and where possible, will provide feedback to colleagues as well as student-athletes, while taking part in team activities. Each apprentice coach will also attend at least one National Coaching Certification Program (NCCP), with the option to also take additional professional development courses and seminars in the field of coaching.
The 2022-23 U SPORTS Female Apprentice Coach Program begins on Apr. 1.
2022-23 U SPORTS Female Apprenticeship Coaches
| Apprentice Coach |
Sport |
Institution |
Athletic Career |
U SPORTS Coaching Career |
Hometown |
| Heather Beaton |
Cross Country / Track & Field |
Dalhousie |
2013-2018 (Dalhousie) |
2020-2021 (StFX)
2021-Present (Dalhousie) |
Stellarton, NS |
| Jennifer Kits |
Cross Country / Track & Field |
Trinity Western |
2016-2021 (Trinity Western) |
2021- Present (Trinity Western) |
Burnaby, BC |
| Amanda Ruller |
Men's Football |
McMaster |
2007-2012 (Regina)
2011-2014 (Team Canada Bobsled) |
2018-2019 (Regina
2021-Present (McMaster) |
Regina, SK |
| Colleen Daly |
Women's Basketball |
UNB |
2011-2015 (UNB) 2017-2018 (UNB) |
2021-Present (UNB) |
Ancaster, ON |
| Richelle Grégoire |
Women's Basketball |
Concordia |
2012-2017 (Concordia) |
2021-Present (Concordia) |
Ste. Therese, QC |
| Amanda Smith |
Women's Hockey |
Waterloo |
2017-2019 (Waterloo)
2013-2017 (Laurier) |
2021-Present (Waterloo) |
Burlington, ON |
| Asya Bartley |
Women's Rugby |
Ottawa |
2008-2012 (StFX) |
2018-Present (Ottawa) |
Ottawa, ON |
| Anne-Charlotte Beaulieu |
Women's Rugby |
Laval |
2014-2019 (Laval) |
2020-Present (Laval) |
Quebec City, QC |
| Maggie MacPhee |
Women's Rugby |
Saint Mary's |
2016-2021 (SMU) |
2021- Present (SMU) |
Riverview, NB |
| Barbara Mervin |
Women's Rugby |
Victoria |
2002-2006 (Western)
2007-2017
(Rugby Canada National Team) |
2015-2017 (Victoria)
2021- Present (Victoria) |
St. Johns, NL |
| Mia Giuliano |
Women's Soccer |
Algoma |
2018-2021 (Algoma) |
|
Sault Ste. Marie, ON |
| Chelsea Cheung |
Women's Soccer |
Toronto |
2014-2018 (Toronto) |
2021-Present (Toronto) |
Toronto, ON |
| Mallory Outerbridge |
Women's Soccer |
Regina |
2007-2012 (Western Kentucky [NCAA])
2008
(Team Canada U-20) |
2021-Present (Regina) |
Regina, SK |
| Ashley Hosfeld |
Women's Volleyball |
Brandon |
2014-2018 (Brandon)
2012-2013 (Fanshawe [CCAA]) |
2019-Present (Brandon) |
Chatham, ON |
| Rebecca van Staalduinen |
Women's Volleyball |
Trent |
2010-2014 (Trent) |
2017-Present (Trent) |
Peterborough, ON |
| Claudia Corneil |
Women's Volleyball |
UBC Okanagan |
2018-2020 (UBC Okanagan)
2015-2018 (Douglas College [CCAA]) |
2020- Present (UBCO) |
Surrey, BC |
| Sarah Chase |
Women's Volleyball |
Calgary |
2015-2019 (Saint Mary's College [NCAA])
2017-2019 (Volleyball Canada National Team) |
2021-Present (Calgary) |
Campbell River, BC |
| Lauren Sokolowski |
Women's Volleyball |
Brock |
2010-2014 (Ryerson) |
|
Georgetown, ON |
