How did you get into coaching / what was your coaching journey/pathway (team/club names welcome)?
The spring after I graduated from university, I ran into someone who was coaching high school
rugby at my former school, Bernice MacNaughton High School. They asked if I wanted to help coach that spring, and at first I was undecided, but they encouraged me to join because they needed support. I did, and I haven’t stopped since.
How many years of experience do you have in your sport?
I have been involved in rugby for about 19 years.
What does mentorship/the mentor program mean to you?
Personally, it means having the opportunity to help other coaches develop their skills and
confidence so they can become leaders in their communities. Ideally that includes rugby coaches, but it also extends to multi-sport environments. Coach development is something I care deeply about, and I’m genuinely excited for the chance to support others in growing their capacity and impact.
What is the impact you think mentorship has?
For me, mentorship really comes down to the idea that you don’t know what you don’t know.
Having a mentor or being connected to other coaches in a way that allows you to problem-solve
together, encourage one another, and share resources, is incredibly valuable. You often don’t
realize what gaps you have until you’re able to talk openly with someone else about your
experiences. That’s what mentorship provides; it opens your eyes to new perspectives and new
ways of approaching challenges.
At its core, it’s about maintaining a growth mindset. I’m always trying to grow as a coach, and I
don’t want that to stop. In fact, I think if I ever reached a point where I didn’t want to grow
anymore, that would be a sign that it would be time to step away from coaching. Mentorship
helps keep that growth alive, both for me and for the coaches I work with.
What is your vision for Rugby in New Brunswick?
I think that’s a big question. I’m involved not only in coaching but also in rugby governance
through my work on the Rugby New Brunswick board and the Moncton Black Tide board. So,
my vision for what rugby in New Brunswick can look like is much broader than coaching alone.
From a coaching standpoint specifically, I would love to see greater collaboration among
coaches in the province. I’d like to see true communities of practice where coaches can connect,
share ideas, and support one another. Right now, I feel like we’re quite disconnected. Even
though coaches see each other weekly because our age-grade programs run on the same day,
there isn’t a lot of meaningful collaboration happening.
I would really like to see that change, to build an environment where coaches work together
intentionally, learn from one another, and contribute to a stronger, more unified rugby
community in New Brunswick.
What keeps you motivated to stay involved in Rugby?
For me, the simple answer is that rugby has given me a lot. It’s given me opportunities,
confidence, belief in myself, and a set of skills that I don’t think I would have developed as
quickly without the sport. Being able to share that with others is something I really value.
It’s also been incredibly rewarding to see how much rugby has grown locally, provincially, and
even globally. Watching that growth and knowing I can contribute to it in some way, keeps me
motivated to stay involved and continue giving back to the sport.
Describe your coaching style in 1 word?
I would describe my coaching style as being rooted in a growth mindset. That’s the foundation of
how I approach both coaching and team development. In terms of philosophy, the words that
have been coming up for me recently are joy, respect, and commitment. Those values guide how
I work with athletes and how I frame our progress.
Over the last few years, many of the teams I’ve coached haven’t necessarily been winning teams, so it’s been important to look at development through a broader lens. Focusing on growth, both individually and collectively, helps athletes understand the value of the work they’re putting in, even when results don’t always show up on the scoreboard. I think my athletes see that, and they appreciate that their experience is being framed around improvement, effort, and long-term development rather than just outcomes.
What is some advice you would give to your younger self / a younger coach?
I would say that you know more than you think you do, and it’s okay to try, fail, and try again.
Things won’t always work out perfectly, and that’s completely normal.
