Congratulations to the 2012 Coach of the Year Winners!

 
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 10, 2013 
Congratulations to the 2012 Coach of the Year Winners!
Vancouver, BC – The Bob Bearpark Foundation supports the Coaches Association of BC (Coaches BC) in providing recognition awards for the BC coaches in three categories: Recreational/Grassroots, Regional/Provincial Development and International. The purpose of the Coach of the Year Awards is to recognize a history and dedication to coaching in British Columbia. Each recipient has been selected for their outstanding achievement in the category they have been nominated, and for their unique contribution to the advancement and well-being of athletes and their sport. The award is designed to recognize contributions the coach has made to his/her sport and its athletes over a number of years.
Recreational/Grassroots Award

Winner: Ryan McWhinney 
Nominated By: Heather Reid/Charlotte Siemens

From hometown Abbotsford, BC, Ryan started his athlete career playing football and rugby for UBC and UVIC. After obtaining his first degree toward physiotherapy, Ryan began coaching football and rugby and enjoyed it so much he switched gears to a career in teaching. He went back to UBC and earned a B. Ed in 2003 and was hired in the Abbotsford School District, where he currently works as an Athletic Director. Ryan has coached for the Abbotsford Rugby Club for nine years, and has coached middle school rugby for ten years, capturing five Fraser Valley Championships. Ryan has also been involved in coaching and refereeing football, volleyball, basketball, and track, and has coached or managed various regional and provincial rugby teams for almost a decade. When he is not coaching, Ryan still plays rugby for his local club. Ryan enjoys seeing how sport develops the character of young athletes and appreciates his wife for her patience with all that he is involved with. 
Regional/Provincial Development Award

Winner: Susan Kemper, ChPC
Nominated By: Shannon Higgins

Susan Kemper, ChPC has been active in synchronized swimming for over 30 years as an athlete and coach for BC and Canada. Susan coached Synchro Canada’s National Team for seven years and was Head Coach of the 2008 Olympic Team. Today, she is a highly sought after High Performance Consultant running camps for both provinces and clubs each season, and Head Coach of the BC Aquasonics, the second ranked club in the country. Susan is a Chartered Professional Coach and in 2006 became a fully certified NCCP Level 5 Coach, the first coach in synchronized swimming with Level 5 Certification and the ninth woman in Canadian Sport. In 2009, Susan was honoured with the induction as a “Builder” for sport into the Coquitlam Sports Hall of Fame. As a member of Synchro Canada’s Coaching Development Team, a Master Learning Facilitator for their Competition Development Coaching Program, and the current Technical Director for Synchro BC, Susan is influential coach at all levels of sport. 
International Award

Winner: Allison McNeill
Nominated by: Lawrie Johns

Allison guided the Canadian Women’s National team to their first appearance in the Olympic Games since 2000. Advancing to the quarter-finals in London, equaled the best performance ever by a Canadian Women’s Basketball team. She has served as Canada’s Head Coach since 2002 and has led Canada to 2 World Championship (2006 and 2010) appearances as well. After an illustrious 13-year career at SFU, advancing to 3 NAIA Final 4’s, she served as the Associate Head Coach at the University of Oregon helping the Ducks to the WNIT title in 2002 and an NCAA tournament spot in 2005.

She is currently the Head Coach of the BC Centre for Performance, the Tri-Cities Youth Basketball Association Master Coach and a sought after public speaker.

The Coaching Association of Canada awarded her the Geoff Gowan Award recognizing her lifetime contribution to coaching development in Canada.
More information: www.coachesbc.ca/news/coach-profiles