Female Apprentice Coach Program: Hehn
The Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) is proud to announce its 2020-21 participants in the annual Female Apprentice Coach Program (FACP) for the sport of Soccer:
The King’s Eagles, ACAC
Apprentice: Katelyn Hehn
Mentor: Rick Haxby
After five seasons with the The King’s University Eagles of the Alberta Colleges Athletic Association (ACAC), Katelyn Hehn is set to re-join the team she once captained as an apprentice coach in the CCAA’s FACP.
She will be mentored by her former coach, Rick Haxby. Hehn considered it a privilege to play for Haxby, who was the head coach during her final two seasons with the Eagles.
“Through being coached by Rick, I was able to see how much he cares for each of his players and how he creates a sense of family among us players,” said Hehn. “It was because of this close-knit team dynamic and commitment to one another that left me with such positive memories of my time at King’s.”
Hehn credit’s Haxby’s love and knowledge for the game as the reason the Eagles qualified for the ACAC Championships – for the first time in school history – in each of her final two seasons.
Now, she’s thrilled to be working by his side.
“I am beyond grateful to have this opportunity to coach alongside such an experienced and skilled coach and learn from him,” said Hehn. “I believe that the skills and characteristics that I have learned as an athlete will be useful in my future coaching.”
Hehn, who graduated in the spring of 2019 with a Bachelor of Arts majoring in Sociology, is now completing her after-degree in Elementary Education and plans on graduating from King’s in April 2021.
While the ACAC Soccer season has been postponed until Spring of 2021 due to COVID-19, the Eagles are continuing to train throughout the fall semester of 2020.
The 2020-21 season is like none other in CCAA history and even though league play and National Championships may not be proceeding as normal, coach education and training – which is key to the CCAA’s FACP – is being further supplemented via the FACP Leadership Development Program. This Leadership Program is developed by former CCAA student-athlete and current CCAA Head Coach and Doctoral student Danielle Cyr, who will be facilitating the mentorship process.
And Hehn’s determination and dedication have made her an asset to The King’s coaching staff as she understands what it means to have to work hard to become a better player and team leader according to Grace Scott, Director of Athletics at The King’s.
“Her leadership and devotion serve her well as she shows incoming players what can be achieved through commitment and hard work,” said Scott. “I believe Katie’s passion and enthusiasm for both school and soccer will be a tremendous example to others and help make her an excellent coach.”
Haxby, who played professional soccer in the United Kingdom, has more than 40 years of coaching experience and he has loved every minute of it. Along the way, he has made excellent friends, many who are now part of his extended family.
“Many of my players have come back to help me coach numerous teams, and it is always a privilege to see how they have grown and become leaders both in soccer and in their careers,” said Haxby. “One of the greatest joys I find in coaching is to be able to pass on the knowledge that I have accumulated over the years to young coaches who desire also to build into young players.”
For Hehn, soccer has greatly shaped who she is as a person and the sport has taught her valuable lessons on teamwork, commitment, leadership and perseverance. Having been a recent student-athlete, she looks forward to being able to connect with and relate to the players she will be coaching.
“I’m hopeful that this apprenticeship will help me grow both as a coach and as an individual and will take my love for soccer to the next level,” she said.
Media Contact:
Rodney Wilson / rodney@ccaa.ca
Manager, Communications & Events
