Heather Beaton is returning to Dalhousie - this time as a coach
Beaton was a sprinter/middle distance runner on the Tigers track and field team 2012 to 2018. During her five-year career, she was a three-time AUS all-star and earned AUS gold in the 300m run in 2017. The Stellarton, N.S. native is a recreation therapist and is the Operations Manager at Keppoch & PRO Administrative Manager at RNS. She was the head coach at Pictou County Athletics Club last year.
After a one-year stint at STFX, Beaton is in her first year as a sprints coach at Dalhousie.
"We're extremely fortunate to have Heather expanding her role in our program," says head coach Rich Lehman. "Over the past few years she has proven to be one of the best sprints and middle distance coaches in the province and I am confident she will see the same success at the varsity level. For such a young coach, she already has a very impressive resume having coached on multiple provincial teams and served as head coach of the largest and most successful club in the province (Pictou County Athletics)."
Beaton will be working with veteran Mike Bawol and Lehman in the program and will spend time with both the track and field and cross country teams.
"I'm look forward to developing my skills with the help of Rich and Mike as a great mentors," says Beaton. "I hope to be a role model for other young women in choosing pathways to coaching!
FULL RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
McMaster’s Amanda Ruller, Victoria’s Barbara Mervin headline 18 participants selected for 2022-23 U SPORTS Female Apprentice Coach Program
March 8, 2022
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 are Amanda Ruller of McMaster and Barbara Mervin of Victoria.
Ruller was a member of the Regina Cougars track and field team earning five Canada West conference medals (one gold, two silver and three bronze) from 2008-2011 and competed in two Olympic trials for the 100m and 200m dash. Ruller represented Team Canada in Bobsled and Skeleton at the North American Cup from 2011-2014 and got her start in football with the LA temptation in the United States before being named to the Women’s Worlds Canadian Football team, capturing a silver medal in 2017. Ruller was the speed coach for the Regina Rams football team, before taking over as Assistant Coach for the McMaster Marauders in 2021.
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) |
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) |
2018-2019 (Regina |
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) |
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) (Rugby Canada National Team) |
2015-2017 (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) |
|
Toronto, ON |
|
Mallory Outerbridge |
Women's Soccer |
Regina |
2007-2012 (Western Kentucky [NCAA]) 2008 |
2021-Present (Regina) |
Regina, SK |
|
Ashley Hosfeld |
Women's Volleyball |
Brandon |
2014-2018 (Brandon) |
2019-Present (Brandon) |
Chatham, ON |
|
Rebecca van Staalduinen |
Women's Volleyball |
Trent |
2010-2014 (Trent) |
|
Peterborough, ON |
|
Claudia Corneil |
Women's Volleyball |
UBC Okanagan |
2018-2020 (UBC Okanagan) |
2020- Present (UBCO) |
Surrey, BC |
|
Sarah Chase |
Women's Volleyball |
Calgary |
2015-2019 (Saint Mary's College [NCAA]) |
2021-Present (Calgary) |
Campbell River, BC |
|
Lauren Sokolowski |
Women's Volleyball |
Brock |
2010-2014 (Ryerson) |
|
Georgetown, ON |