The Dalhousie Tigers - Dalhousie University

Many athletes dream of one day being able to represent their country at a national level and spend years training to get to this level. For Kathy (MacCormack) Spurr the dream became reality after just two years of playing university basketball. During her time at Dalhousie, she was an offensive powerhouse and she set many team and AUAA records.

Kathy’s four-year career as a Tiger began in 1984 when she became part of Dalhousie basketball program. She was originally recruited to swim at Dalhousie, but was determined to earn a place on the basketball team with her sister. “My sister was a big part of my development and success,” says Kathy. “She always challenged me.” Previously Kathy had played a year of basketball at Cape Breton University and she was forced to sit out for one year in order to meet eligibility requirements.

During the 1985-86 season, her first year with the Tigers, Kathy displayed natural leadership skills and led the team and league in field goal shooting at 56.6%. She worked hard to become second in team scoring and played an important role in her team’s AUAA basketball championship win, a moment which Kathy marks as the highlight of her career as a Tiger. Her effort and determination earned her a spot on the AUAA second team all-star roster that season.

In her second year with the Tigers, 1986-87, Kathy continued to be a dominant force on the court and once again led the team and league in field goal shooting at 58.1% and also became a leader in team rebounds. For her efforts she was named an AUAA first team all-star and CIAU second team all-Canadian. The CIAU also selected Kathy to play in Tokyo at the World Sports Fair on a team of top athletes from universities across Canada.

In the 1987-88 season, Kathy was selected to the AUAA first all-star team and recognized as AUAA MVP. At the national level once again she earned a spot on the CIAU second all-Canadian team. Dalhousie honoured Kathy that year as team MVP and with the Class of ’55 award as the university’s top female athlete.

In 1988-89, her final and most impressive season, Kathy co-captained the team. Again she led the AUAA in field goal shooting (51.9%), rebounds (142 total, 10.1 RPGA), and scoring (292 total, 20.9 PGA).  For her leadership and athleticism on the court, Kathy was chosen as team MVP and also honoured as the AUAA MVP. The CIAU named Kathy a first team all-Canadian.

Although basketball kept Kathy very busy she also found time to be a member of the Varsity Council and also worked at the Student Union Building information desk and at Dalplex as a lifeguard.

Kathy graduated in 1988 with a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology and in 1989 completed a certificate in Public Administration, but her basketball days were not over. In the summer of 1986 she was named to Canada’s National Women’s Basketball Team and went on to represent her country until 1992. Kathy also played semi-professional basketball in Berlin, Germany for the 1989-90 season.

“She only started playing basketball in grade 12. She was determined to get to the Canadian National team and she did that. In my view, she did the unimaginable. Who would ever believe that you could play for Canada after playing only two years of basketball? Obviously Kathy did,” says her former coach, Dr. Carolyn Savoy.

Since 1999 Kathy has shared her love of the game with her community as the head coach of the Halifax Grammar School’s Senior Girl’s Basketball Team. She has coached her team to two Nova Scotia School Athletic Federation Division 1 Titles. She also returned to Dalhousie to serve as Dr. Savoy’s assistant coach from 1992-94 and is a regular fixture at Tigers games, supporting the team year after year.

In 2007 Kathy was named Dalhousie’s A.J. Sandy Young Award winner for her contribution to the sport of basketball in Nova Scotia. That same year she was selected Basketball Nova Scotia’s Coach of the Year.

Currently Kathy is a Dalhousie School of Health Sciences faculty member. For her remarkable athleticism and accomplishments as a leader on the Tigers basketball team we induct Kathy (MacCormack) Spurr into Dalhousie’s Sport Hall of Fame.