(FREDERICTON, NB) Erin McAleenan is coming home.
The Sussex native has been named the new head coach of the UNB REDS women’s basketball team.
“I’m thrilled to be coming home to lead the REDS,” said McAleenan. “I have so much pride in being a New Brunswicker and having the opportunity to impact the basketball community that has given me so much over my life is a true honour.”
McAleenan brings a decade of experience as a head coach in Canadian university women’s basketball to the job, having led teams at the University of Lethbridge, York University, and the University of British Columbia.
Prior to her first head coaching job, McAleenan served as an assistant coach at the University of Alberta for three seasons.
She spent four seasons playing the game at Acadia University.
“I’ve had the opportunity to run three very different programs and the experience and knowledge I’ve gained from those positions will undoubtedly help me as I take over the UNB program,” she said. “The biggest take-away is that people matter and making the time to develop individual relationships with the student-athletes, staff, alumni, supporters and key stakeholders in the community is the priority.”
McAleenan succeeds Jeff Speedy, who stepped down earlier this year after 17 seasons as coach of the REDS. Speedy is now UNB’s Associate Director of Athletics.
“I think it’s a great asset to our program to have the former coach remaining in the department,” she said. “His knowledge and understanding of the team’s needs, while being in a new position to acquire resources for the program, will be valuable to us moving forward.”
“We’re very excited to be able to hire Erin to lead our women’s basketball team,” said John Richard, Executive Director of the UNB REDS. “Her resume stood out in a very strong field of candidates. She brings incredible experience to this job, and on top of it all, she’s a New Brunswicker. We’re really happy that she’s joining our team.”
Along with her work in Canadian university basketball, McAleenan served as head coach of Canada’s gold medal winning women’s 3X3 team at the 2022 Commonwealth Games, was an assistant coach with the national junior women’s team between 2017 and 2019, was head coach of Alberta’s Canada Summer Games team in 2013 and was head coach of Alberta’s U17 girls’ team in 2011 and 2012.
“I want to build a legacy of developing young women into leaders in their communities while being committed to excellence in sport,” said McAleenan. “I’m aiming to make UNB the choice for all the top women’s basketball players on the east coast. I aspire to be part of UNB’s vision of excellence and innovation.”
The McAleenan name carries a lot of weight in New Brunswick basketball circles.
Erin’s father played at UNB under legendary men’s coach Don Nelson, and the trophy presented to the top coach in girls high school basketball in New Brunswick carries her grandmother’s name.
McAleenan says her immediate goal will be to get to know the current and incoming student-athletes and assemble a staff that can support them.
Longer term, she’s set her sights on connecting with alumni and winning the Atlantic University Sport championship.
McAleenan earned a Science degree while at Acadia, an Education degree at Trent University, and holds a Masters in Coaching from the University of Alberta.
McAleenan will assume her new position in June.
STORY: Andy Campbell/UNB Athletics
PHOTOS: UBC Thunderbirds