UPEI’s Lauren Clark is one of 18 coaches selected for U SPORTS Female Apprentice Coach Program
Eighteen participants from across the country, including UPEI’s Lauren Clark, have been selected for the 2024 U SPORTS Female Apprentice Coach Program funded through Sport Canada.
Clark, assistant coach with UPEI Women’s Soccer, will apprentice under UPEI Soccer head coach Lewis Page. Originally launched in the 2020–21 school season, the U SPORTS Female Apprentice Coach Program aims to increase the number of females in coaching positions across Canadian universities. The Program matches apprentice coaches who have recently graduated, with a head coach in one of 12 U SPORTS-sanctioned sports for female-identifying student-athletes.
A total of 28 applications were received for the 2024–25 edition of the program, with 18 apprentice coaches selected for the fourth iteration. Nine of the 12 sports are represented—including volleyball, basketball, hockey, swimming, track and field, soccer, rugby, field hockey and wrestling—as well as all four U SPORTS member conferences.
“Having the opportunity to be a U SPORTS Apprentice Coach will support and facilitate my journey to a professional career in coaching,” said Clark. “I believe that now, more than ever, having strong female coaches is a necessity in sport. I am confident in my ability to add to and enhance the UPEI Women’s Soccer program for this coming season, and future years to come.”
Clark, who holds two UPEI degrees, Bachelor of Arts in Psychology (2021) and Bachelor of Education (2022), was also a varsity student-athlete with the UPEI Women’s Soccer team, serving as team captain in her final year and earning AUS All-Star status. She is currently completing her Masters of Education in Coaching Studies at the University of Victoria, BC, while also working full time as an elementary school teacher on PEI.
The NCCP-certified Clark has coached soccer since she was 14 years old. In addition to being UPEI’s assistant coach since 2023, she participated in the Women in Coaching Apprenticeship program for Team PEI that competed at the 2022 Canada Summer Games; was assistant coach for 2024 PEIFC U17 Girls, 2023 PEIFC U15 Girls, 2022 Team Atlantic U16 Girls at the Vancouver Whitecaps Youth Showcase, 2021 PEIFC U17 Girls; and served as head coach for 2020 PEI U16 Girls.
“We’re extremely excited that Lauren has been selected for this opportunity,” said Jane Vessey, Director of Athletics and Recreation. “Lauren’s coaching resume is already impressive, but, as a testament to her coaching style and belief in life-long learning, she continues to seek professional development opportunities like the U SPORTS Female Apprentice Coach Program to provide leadership to the UPEI Women’s Soccer program and broader PEI soccer community. Congratulations, Lauren!”
To see the full list of women who were selected for the apprentice coach program for the 2024–25 season, read the U SPORTS release.
