MONTREAL –
Nikki van Noord of the McGill University swim team is among 18 participants from across the country that have been selected for the 2024 U SPORTS Female Apprentice Coach Program funded through Sport Canada.
A 25-year-old native of Hudson, Que., van Noord was recruited from John Abbott College in 2017 and went on to swim five seasons for McGill. She joined head coach Peter Carpenter's staff as a part-time assistant last year. Her efforts helped the team sweep all three banners at the 2024 RSEQ conference championships, winning the men's and women's titles, along with the combined banner.
Van Noord initially graduated from McGill in 2022 with a degree in materials engineering. She is currently pursuing a doctorate in exercise physiology, studying respiratory system limitations in elite swimmers.
Originally launched in the 2020-21 season, the apprenticeship program aims to increase the number of women in coaching positions across Canadian universities. The objective is to match apprentice coaches who have recently graduated, with a head coach in one of 12 U SPORTS-sanctioned sports for female-identifying student-athletes.
A total of 28 applications were received for the 2024-25 edition, with 18 of them being selected for the initiative, which is in its fourth year of operation. Nine of the national governing body's 12 sports are represented – including volleyball, basketball, hockey, swimming, track & field, soccer, rugby, field hockey and wrestling – 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 also has the opportunity to also take professional development courses and seminars in the field of coaching - a minimum of 20 per cent of the allotted grant must be earmarked for professional development opportunities.
Selected U SPORTS participants for the 2024-25 season
Selected participants for the 2024-2025 season
| School |
Conference |
Sport |
Mentor Coach |
ApprenticeCoach |
| Dalhousie |
AUS |
Volleyball |
Dan Ota |
Tessa Bulmer |
| RMC |
OUA |
Volleyball |
Joely Christian |
Kelsey Chang |
| UNB |
AUS |
Volleyball |
Lauren Hale-Miller |
Cameron Rogers |
| UQAC |
RSEQ |
Volleyball |
Stéphane Gilbert |
Andréa Maksimovic |
| St.Francis Xavier |
AUS |
Basketball |
Matt Spencer |
Katie Upham |
| Ontario Tech |
OUA |
Basketball |
Megan Grant |
Chante Clark |
| Alberta |
CW |
Basketball |
Scott Edwards |
Megan Wickstrom |
| Mount Allison |
AUS |
Hockey |
Addie-Miles Abbott |
Tallon Stephenson |
| McGill |
RSEQ |
Swimming |
Peter Carpenter |
Nikki van Noord |
| Western |
OUA |
Track & Field |
Vickie Croley |
Caroline Ehrhardt |
| Bishop's |
RSEQ |
Soccer |
Paul Ballard |
Isidora Pekez |
| UPEI |
AUS |
Soccer |
Lewis Page |
Lauren Clark |
| Manitoba |
CW |
Soccer |
Vanessa Martinez Lagunas |
Nicole Davis |
| Mount Royal |
CW |
Soccer |
Tino Fusco |
Michelle Jang |
| Regina |
CW |
Soccer |
Astrid Baecker |
Karlee Vorrieter |
| McMaster |
OUA |
Rugby |
Chris Jones |
Tanisha Bryan |
| Calgary |
CW |
Field Hockey |
Jenn Beagan |
Jennifer Wishart |
| Brock |
OUA |
Wrestling |
Marty Calder |
Hannah Taylor |
SOURCE:
U SPORTS Communications Office
and
Earl Zukerman
Sports Information Officer
McGill University - Athletics & Recreation
CELL:
514-983-7012
TWITTER:
@EarlZukerman
E-MAIL:
earl.zukerman@mcgill.ca
