New Lions Women’s Basketball Coaching Team Hired

Calgary, AB | New Women's basketball Coaching Team Hired

We are pleased to announce that Lions Athletics has recently hired new Coaches for the Lions Women's Basketball Team. The new Head Coach is Rodd Sawatzky and the Lead Assistant and Mentee Coach is Aphia Ward.

Rodd Sawatzky is no stranger to Ambrose and has been involved with Lions Athletics and spoken on campus on numerous occasions. He is currently the Chaplain for the Calgary Stampeders and works with the Christian organization Athletes in Action and has devoted his life to the integration of faith and sport. His coaching involvements have been at all levels from young kids to Usport to professional athletes and has a particular gifting in inspiring his athletes and creating an emotionally positive and high performance environment. Aphia Ward is a recent CCAA Student Athlete herself and won a National Championship in her last year with the NAIT Ooks in 2022, also being named the Gold Medal game Player of the Game. She has been an Assistant Coach with the Ooks for the past two seasons and is a passionate coach from a basketball family from her hometown, Beaumont, AB.

Athletic Director Colin Kubinec says, "I believe we have found something very special in this coaching arrangement with Rodd and Aphia. Rodd's experience and wisdom and Aphia's passion and fresh insight will be a powerful combination. I really look forward to seeing how they continue to grow the program and each of the girls spiritually, academically, relationally, and athletically."

Rodd and Aphia have taken the reigns in early April and are busy forming their team for the Fall of 2024. They look to continue to build upon the strong foundation that Coach Neil Nystrom laid down and to help the team and program rise to new heights.

Welcome, Rodd and Aphia, and Go Lions!!