Michelle steps into the role of Coaching Director for the FHBC Board of Directors in an acting capacity following the recent resignation of Gurjit Sidhu. The Field Hockey BC Board sincerely thanks Gurjit for his commitment to the Society and offers a warm welcome to Michelle as she joins the governance team. Michelle has been appointed by the FHBC Board of Directors in an acting capacity as Coaching Director until such time as this position is next up for election (2022).
Michelle has been a part of the field hockey community for over three decades. She first picked up a stick in middle school in Chilliwack and participated on high school and high-performance teams in British Columbia before attending Acadia University. In Nova Scotia, Michelle was a founding member of the Acadia varsity team for four years and led the team as captain for two years. After a debilitating injury took her off the field as an athlete, Michelle was encouraged to pursue coaching by the Acadia and Nova Scotia field hockey programs as way of staying involved in the game.
Since 2004-2005, Michelle has coached teams at a variety of levels in the Maritimes and in British Columbia. When she began her career as a teacher in the Chilliwack school district, Michelle eagerly volunteered with the Chilliwack Pink Panthers, quickly becoming head coach, and then club president in 2006-2007. Through her leadership, the Pink Panthers have grown exponentially and elevated their skill level. This has allowed the Pink Panthers to compete at Cal Cup, host international touring teams, host FHBC club competitions and successfully advocated for inclusion in the Vancouver Women’s Field Hockey Association.
In addition to her club responsibilities, Michelle is head coach of the Sardis Secondary team, head coach of the Mt. Sleese Middle School team and co-coordinator of the Chilliwack middle school league; she is also the former Fraser Valley Field Hockey Commissioner and current Fraser Valley East representative.
Michelle is proud to continue the development of the game in her community and is a tireless advocate for the sport in the Fraser Valley. Having recovered from her injury as a varsity athlete, Michelle cautiously returned to the field in 2013 and continually seeks to advance her knowledge of all aspects of the game, including technical officiating. In 2019, Michelle was selected to attend an FIH technical officiating seminar in Ipoh, Malaysia.
As Coaching Director of FHBC, Michelle hopes to connect coaches from around the province and emphasize the growth of the game, facilitate the transition to the NCCP coaching certification programming, support coaches and mentees in working together, and offer support and tools to promote excellence in our game. A key element in this work is celebrating coaches and recognizing them for their diverse and valuable contribution to their local and provincial communities as they showcase passion and love for field hockey.
Michelle looks forward to working with FHBC to continue building and developing nation-leading coaches, coaching resources, and recognizing coaches at all levels, from the grass roots to high performance, who play an integral role in the ongoing growth and development of our sport.