Ashley VanderVecht of the Fanshawe Falcons is the 2021 Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) Cross-Country Running Coach of the Year.
VanderVecht was honoured at the 2021 CCAA Cross-Country Running National Championships, hosted by St. Mary's University in Calgary, Alta.
"Ashley is not only a very successful cross-country coach, but she is also an exemplary role model for the female and male team members, as well as other student-athletes and coaches in the OCAA," said Darcy Brioux, CCAA Cross-Country Running Convenor. "Ashley's influence on the athletes with a tight-knit team culture is evident, along with her coaching excellence and her positive energy that is felt throughout the running community in Ontario and across Canada."
VanderVecht guided both the Men's and Women's Cross-Country Running teams from Fanshawe to gold-medal performances at the Ontario Colleges Athletic Association (OCAA) Conference Championships.
Falcons' runners also captured individual gold and bronze medals in the men's race.
At Fanshawe, VanderVecht has created a very tight knit team culture away from the field. She hosts many team events which build a strong bond amongst her student-athletes. She is always communicating with her student-athletes about their personal situations and supporting them so they can be successful people and students.
VanderVecht's goal is to continue to guide and shape young student-athletes by instilling fundamentals such as dedication, teamwork, reliability, integrity, respect, and confidence.
She continues to be a positive role model and influence on the student-athletes at Fanshawe as they grow and mature into young adults. VanderVecht also provides physical and mental support to the athletes.
"Ashley has developed and led the Fanshawe Cross-Country Running program to a long and distinctive record of success and outstanding, if not unmatched achievements during her tenure," said Nathan McFadden, Manager of Athletics at Fanshawe College.
VanderVecht is caring, invested in each student-athlete and always focused on building both genders of the program at Fanshawe, according to McFadden.
"Having both teams win OCAA championships is a testament to her coaching excellence, commitment to gender equity and dedication to all of her student-athletes," he said.
Other nominees for the CCAA Cross-Country Running Coach of the Year award were Matt Norminton of the Concordia Thunder (Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference), Eric Beaudoin of the Champlain Saint-Lambert Cavaliers (Réseau du sport étudiant du Québec) and Brandon LeBlanc of the Crandall Chargers (Atlantic Collegiate Athletic Association).
CCAA Coach of the Year winners receive a customized ring provided by Jostens Canada, the Official Ring Supplier of CCAA Championships.
Source: CCAA Communications