Maggie MacPhee selected to U SPORTS Female Apprentice Coach Program

Huskies rugby assistant coach and former team captain Maggie MacPhee has been selected to the 2022-23 U SPORTS Female Apprentice Coach Program.

MacPhee, from Riverview, N.B., played prop for the Huskies rugby team from 2016-21, and is now in her first full year as a coach with the team. As a player, she was a four-time Team Captain, was named the 2018-19 SMU Rugby MVP, and won the 2019 AUS Student Athlete Community Service Award.

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.

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 12 U SPORTS-sanctioned sport offerings for female-identifying student-athletes.

"We're excited to continue to build upon our Female Apprentice Coach Program," says Jennifer Smart, U SPORTS Director of Sport. "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.