TORONTO – In celebration of International Women's Day, U SPORTS is proud to announce 18 former student-athletes have been selected for the 2021-22 U SPORTS Female Apprentice Coach Program.

Included in those 18 is former Pandas Hockey defender, Taylor Kezama. Kezama suited up for the Pandas from 2016-2019, helping the Pandas win the 2017 U SPORTS Championship, and 2019 Canada West Championship. 

Kezama retired from university sport after the 2019 season, and has since created her own hockey skills business. She has also spent the 2020-21 season as an assistant coach with the Pandas. 

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

"We're excited to continue to build our Female Apprentice Coach Program," said Lisette Johnson-Stapley, Chief Sport Officer at U SPORTS. "Despite the unprecedented challenges faced in the program's inaugural year, this initiative is already opening new doors, providing the tools for further coaching development and education in Canadian university sport and fostering success to our proud alumnae who aspire to become coaches themselves in the near future."

A total of 46 applications were received for the 2021-22 edition of the program, nearly double from the inaugural campaign, with 18 apprentice coaches selected for the second consecutive year. Nine of the 11 sports are represented – including rugby, soccer, cross country, hockey, basketball, volleyball, swimming, track and field and wrestling – as well as all four U SPORTS member conferences, in addition to the BIPOC community.

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.

Job duties may vary due to the COVID-19 pandemic.  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 2021-22 U SPORTS Female Apprentice Coach Program begins on Apr. 1.