After taking over last season as interim head coach, Craig Beemer will be back leading the women’s rugby program, without the ‘interim’ tag.
Concordia rugby alum and longtime assistant coach Hughanna Gaw has been named associate head coach alongside Beemer. Both Lia Hoyte and Craig McDevitt will be back as assistant coaches.
Jocelyn Barrieau, head coach of the women’s rugby team up until last season, stepped away from the program to pursue opportunities with Rugby Canada. This year Barrieau has decided to permanently step down as head coach to continue working at the international level.
We would like to thank Jocelyn for all her hard work and dedication to the women’s rugby program.
A message from Jocelyn:
After 6 years as the head coach of our women’s rugby team I am moving on to explore coaching opportunities across the country. I want to write an open letter to express my love and gratitude towards a wonderful university and program.
Thank you;
To Clive Gibson who first hired me as a 7s coach in 2014 for our men’s team, you helped me find my voice in the game and to develop more inclusive leadership practices.
To our generous alumni and Power Corp, your continued support makes our dreams come to fruition and helps get the best people into our program to support our athletes.
To Doreen Haddad for your continued trust with Kelly-Anne’s legacy, we are proud to represent you and your family every year and will continue to educate around the area of gender-based violence as it unfortunately continues to prevail in the headlines.
To the entire staff of Concordia, from locker room design to tickets to team hosting to media day to Academy support and everything in between, thank you for making our program so welcoming to both incoming players and to our community.
To my coaching colleagues, may Con U continue to represent the RSEQ and U Sports at the highest levels. Keep fighting the good fight!
To our team staff; Marge, Craig 1, Lia, Liz, Cam and Craig 2 , who give their most precious resource to our team day in and day out, your time is truly appreciated.
To Indy, Meagan and our student therapists throughout the years you kept us together; literally and figuratively.
To Hughanna, our assistant coach, you are the reason I get to do what I love! Thank you for sharing your life with me (and as you have taught me): Once a Stinger, always a Stinger.
Lastly, and most importantly, thank you to the athletes. Thank you for saying yes and joining this hive. You have helped me grow into the person that I am today, your dedication to this program and the standards that we set together are what made me want to get up every day and be the best version of myself. Consistency, ownership, never giving up and unity will remain our core values and will keep our hives buzzing on and off the field for many days to come.
With passion, pride and love,
Joce
P.S. Keep training!
