Receives Female Apprentice Coach Program grant

Cougars' Badminton assitant coach Nicole Hilland, a Mount Royal alumnus who spent two years as a part of the Cougars badminton team, is one of 21 recipients of the Canadian Colleges Athletics Association (CCAA) Female Apprentice Coach Program grants. The program is designed to target graduating and graduated female student-athletes, with its goal to have at least one female member on the coaching staff of each of the women’s sports program in Canada.

Hilland will be mentored by the Cougars’ head coach Hayden Kowell, and will be given the opportunity to further her education in the National Coaching Certification Program (NCCP), where she has already received her level 1 certification. The grant covers the education costs as well as any other operational costs associated with the program. In addition to her coaching certificates, Hilland also graduated with a Kinesiology degree from University of Calgary – where she also took a variety of sport and coaching courses.

Kowell knows just how important it is to integrate former players into the collegiate coaching ranks, and says a blend of youth and experience is important in the development of future players.

“[The program] gives young coaches the opportunity to continue [their] involvement with…sport and college in a leadership capacity,” says Kowell. He adds that “young coaches are excellent assets in passing on their experience and skills to the athletes.”

        (Nicole Hilland)

Hilland, along with her two brothers, have been lifelong badminton players, and have all played for the Cougar badminton program. Hilland helped bring the Cougars an ACAC silver medal in doubles competition, gold in mixed doubles, and two CCAA National bronze medals during her time at Mount Royal. Nicole is eager to share her passion for this sport with a new generation of players, and to become the type of coach that she had while at MRU.

“I have always admired Hayden Kowell as a coach,” explains Hilland. “There is so much I’ve learned from Hayden this season, and continue to learn as we enter the provincial championships and national qualifying tournament at Mount Royal.”

Hilland has been working with Kowell all season and has seen her responsibilities grow throughout the year.

“I am beginning to feel more confident running drills and leading certain parts of practice,” says Hilland. “I feel I have built a very positive relationship with everyone on the team and players never hesitate to ask me questions about a drill or a game situation.”

It’s evident that Hilland has truly been empowered by the female apprentice program, and her enthusiasm for the sport and the job is contagious. She is excited to continue to learn and grow under Kowell, and to keep giving back to the sport she grew up with.