Chargers coach CCAA female apprentice

Camosun Chargers athletics is proud to announce that women’s volleyball alumni, Morgan Monkman (Smithers, BC), is participating in the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) Female Apprentice Coach Program (FACP) for her second season.

The FACP, which is funded by Sport Canada, is designed to identify and support female graduating student-athletes who demonstrate the desire and skills for coaching by providing them opportunities to grow through the coaching experience in CCAA varsity sports.

“The FACP is a fantastic initiative that provides support for females in coaching roles, this nurturing much needed female representation in coaching - Morgan is an exemplary individual for this program. The Camosun community is proud and honoured to be part of and support Morgan’s journey, not only through her playing career, but onwards to a leadership role where we know she will provide amazing growth experiences for athletes” says Scot Cuachon, Manager, Athletics & Student Life.

Monkman has been coaching since she was in grade 12 at Smithers Secondary School, before moving to Victoria to join the Camosun Chargers and coach at Momentum Volley. She also coached at the Camosun Chargers Junior and High Performance camps during her time on the team.

In Morgan’s first year as a Chargers player, she was named to the Pacific Western Athletic Association (PACWEST) All-Rookie Team and received a CCAA National Scholar Athlete Award. The following season, she helped the team to a CCAA silver medal and another National Scholar Athlete Award. After leaving Camosun for Brock University, she won Ontario University Athletics (OUA) silver and was named USports Academic All-Canadian in 2020.

“Not only does she brings strong knowledge and experience in all aspects of the game, but she also has a keen grasp of the humanities component of the coaching practice,” adds Cuachon. “Morgan has a bright future in coaching and the Chargers are extremely excited to provide her with the environment where she will be able to grow her practice.”

The FACP will once again be augmented by ‘Leadership Development’, a program which is led by former CCAA student-athlete Danielle Cyr, Head Coach of the Mount Saint Vincent University Mystics Women’s Soccer team in the Atlantic Collegiate Athletic Association (ACAA). Cyr is also a Researcher and advocate of sport for social and leadership development.

The goal of the FACP is to increase access for young women to coach at a post-secondary competitive level, provide high level quality coaching mentorship, and support their professional development to facilitate their continued pursuit of coaching.