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 Mike Clarke - Head Coach
Mike Clarke enters his sixth season as the Laurentian Lady Vees Head Coach with a veteran team and a great deal of optimism. After two years of building experience and stockpiling strong recruits the Lady Vees are poised to return to the CIS Top Ten and challenge for the OUA Championship. In addition to Coach Clarke’s tenure at Laurentian, he has amassed a great deal of experience in elite-level women's basketball. Mike made the move to Northern Ontario after four highly successful seasons at Langara College in Vancouver. He guided the Lady Falcons to an overall record of 106-36 (.750), 1 Provincial Championship, 2 CCAA National Championship appearances and earned BCCAA Coach of the Year honors in 2000. Mike has also been very active in Elite Development Programs. He was the Assistant Coach of the BC U-19 Provincial Team that captured gold at the 2001 Canada Games, and in 2002 Head Coached the BC U-17 Team (Silver Medal 2002 National Juvenile Championships). In addition, Mike has coached at the Basketball Canada Centre for Performance in BC (2001-2002) and Ontario (2003, 2004). An NCCP Level III certified coach who is currently pursuing Level IV, Mike holds a Bachelor of Physical Education Degree from UBC. As a player, Mike was a five-year starter for the Thunderbirds where he scored over 2000pts and graduated as the school's fifth all-time leading scorer. He was a member of Canada's National Junior Team which placed 6th at the 1987 Junior World Championships. Mike currently resides in Sudbury with his wife, Janice, daughter Shannon and son Patrick.Assistant Coach: Caitlin Blackadder
Assistant Coach: Lisa Roberts
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Caitlin
Blackadder, who returns for a third year as a Lady Vees Assistant Coach has
been a familiar face around the Ben Avery Gymnasium for many years. Caitie,
who graduated from LU in 2005 with an honors degree in geology, was a five
year starter and captain of the Lady Vees. One of the most intense and
hardest working players in the OUA, Caitlin will be remembered by teammates,
opponents and fans for her tough defence and fearless drives to the basket.
As an assistant coach, she has a lot to offer to a new generation of “Blue
and Gold”. Coach Clarke is very excited to have her on staff "In all my
time in basketball as both a player and a coach, Caitie stands out as one of
the toughest and hardest working players I have been around. Basketball
aside, she is one of the most energetic people I have ever met. She has a
good understanding of the technical aspects of the game and helps us
greatly, particularly teaching the younger players what it takes to get the
most out of their talent." Caitlin lives in Sudbury and pursuing a career in
geology with CVRD INCO Limited.
Lisa
Roberts is a new addition to the Laurentian Coaching Staff but is no
stranger to LU player or fans. Lisa was the starting point guard and captain
of the Lady Vees for the last two seasons. During her playing days, Lisa was
one of the best shooters the OUA but she was already preparing for her new
role by being a proverbial “Coach on the floor”. Lisa was a very special
player for Head Coach Mike Clarke as she began her career playing for him at
Langara College in Vancouver before making the move east to Sudbury. “I am
very excited to have Lisa join our staff. I have known her since she was a
teenager and have seen her grow into a very special player and leader. She
wants to become a Head Coach and brings an intense, professional attitude
every day to practice. She is a great asset to our team”. Lisa graduated
from Laurentian last spring with a degree in Human Kinetics and is currently
completing her education degree in Teacher’s College. Lisa lives in Sudbury
with her sister Norma Jean who is a 2nd year point guard on the Lady Vees.