(FREDERICTON, NB) Colleen Daly is a better coach today than she was when the 2022-2023 Atlantic University Sport women’s basketball season began.
The main reason, according to Daly, an assistant coach with the REDS women’s basketball team, is her inclusion in the U SPORTS Female Coach Apprentice Program.
“The program has given me the opportunity to increase my knowledge of the game, especially from the technical standpoint,” said Daly. “Similar to a player improving their shot or defensive techniques, this season has allowed me to expand and improve my coaching abilities and skills.”
In March of 2022, Daly was one of 18 former U SPORTS student-athletes selected to participate in the Female Coach Apprentice Program this season.
The program aims to increase the number of women in coaching positions with university level teams in Canada.
It matches women, former student-athletes who’ve recently graduated, with a head coach in one of the 11 U SPORTS sanctioned sport offerings for female-identifying student-athletes.
Daly spent five seasons playing for UNB between 2011-12 and 2017-18, appearing in 78 regular season games as a RED.
After three seasons of coaching at the high school level, she joined the REDS’ coaching staff, on a volunteer basis, in 2021.
Because of the U SPORTS Female Coach Apprentice Program, she’s now being paid to coach.
“My role has increased this year,” said Daly. “Coach Speedy has given me many opportunities to grow and I’m very thankful. I’ve been able to work-out, individually, with players, assist with recruiting, scouting reports, team video and practice planning.”
“Colleen has exceeded my expectations,” said REDS’ head coach Jeff Speedy, who is serving as Daly’s program mentor. “She has really taken ownership of all areas that we’ve assigned to her. In addition to that, she’s offered creative ways to track and evaluate certain aspects of how we play, and that’s been very helpful.”
“She’s a very passionate and very committed coach, and her effort this season has made a huge difference in many ways,” added Speedy.
The U SPORTS Female Coach Apprentice Program, with funding from Sport Canada, provides financial assistance to participants so they can gain the experience needed to qualify for coaching jobs.
“That support has been great,” said Daly. “I continue to work full-time and coach, but this has allowed me to put a greater focus on my coaching career. It’s also given me opportunities to learn and grow and network with other female coaches across the country. The program has given me the chance to spend more time in the gym, which is what I love.”
Daly says she’s learned a great deal about a game she already knew a lot about.
“The ‘off court’ aspects, like understanding a team budget, planning workouts ahead of time, and recruitment strategies, that’s all new for me.”
Speedy watched Daly develop as a player over five seasons as her coach. Now he’s witnessing her development as a coaching colleague.
“Her knowledge of the game and her ability to get her message across to our student-athletes have improved,” said Speedy. “I feel she has a better sense of prioritizing what we need to work on and how often and for how long.”
“Coach Speedy has been a wonderful mentor,” said Daly. “As a young coach I have many questions about what it takes to run a program. He’s been patient and I know he cares about me as both a person and a coach. He’s also shown he has trust in me and my abilities. I look up to Coach Speedy in many ways and I feel very lucky to have him as my mentor coach.”
As much as she says she’s growing as a coach, Daly is quick to add that she’s doing so as part of a coaching team.
“Nothing I’ve done this season has been done alone,” she said. “Our coaching staff, trainers, and especially our student-athletes work tirelessly, day in and day out, to make this program what it is.”
The 2022-2023 season is the third year for the U SPORTS Female Coach Apprentice Program and Daly is the first UNB coach to participate in it.
Speedy says he’s seen all areas of Daly’s coaching game evolve and grow. He feels she’s developed a new sense of trust and confidence in herself and her abilities.
“I would have no problem recommending Colleen to any Athletic Director looking to hire her,” he said. “She understands that she still has a lot to learn, we all do, but I know she will never stop learning, even when she becomes a head coach at the university level.”
STORY BY: Andy Campbell/UNB Athletics
PHOTOS BY: James West/for UNB Athletics