Clarke named Ryerson Rams women's basketball head coach
TORONTO - The Department of Athletics at Ryerson University is proud to announce that Carly Clarke has been named Head Coach of the Rams women's basketball team.
Clarke spent the last three seasons in the head coaching position at UPEI. The Halifax, N.S. native and Level III NCCP certified coach has garnered both national and international accolades working with Canada Basketball as well as various provincial sport organizations.
"After an extensive search, we believe we have found the right candidate for our women's basketball head coaching position," said Stephanie White, Ryerson's Associate Director of Athletics. "Carly's university and national team experience makes her a strong addition to our outstanding pool of coaches."
Clarke is the current Head Coach of the Canadian Cadet Women's National Team and she guided the squad to a bronze medal finish at the 2011 FIBA Americas U16 Championship. This earned the Canadians a berth at the upcoming FIBA U17 World Championship, which will take place in Amsterdam, Netherlands from August 17-26.
"I am very excited to join the Rams family and Ryerson University," said Clarke. "The university and athletics department has great leadership that is clearly committed to moving forward. With the upcoming move to Mattamy Athletic Centre I believe there is a lot of excitement around Ryerson and the athletics program. I am not sure there would be a better time to become a Ram."
Clarke served as an apprentice coach with Canada Basketball's National Elite Development Academy (NEDA) in Hamilton in 2008-09 before becoming the Head Coach of the National Female Centre for Performance in Charlottetown, P.E.I. She was appointed Head Coach of the Nova Scotia training centre from 2007 to 2008 and led the Nova Scotia 15U girls provincial team to fourth place at the 2008 national championship.
"We are excited to have a coach of Ms. Clarke's talent lead our program" said Dr. Ivan Joseph, Ryerson's Director of Athletics. "Coach Clarke's combination of university and national team experience is what we were looking for to continue the momentum of Ryerson Athletics as we move into the Mattamy Athletic Centre this upcoming season."
As an athlete, Clarke played five seasons with Bishop's where she guided the Gaiters to a QSSF championship and fifth-place at the CIS Final 8 in 2004. The former academic all-Canadian, who completed a Bachelor of Science in Biology, also topped the nation in 2004 in three-point field-goal shooting percentage.
Following her playing career, Clarke became the lead assistant coach at Dalhousie from 2006 to 2008 where she also earned a Master's in Business Administration. She helped the Tigers to a fourth-place finish at the CIS Final 8 in 2007.
"I believe that my experience leading up to this opportunity has more than prepared me for this role," said Clarke. "I have developed a strong network of friends, players and coaches throughout Ontario and Canada that I hope will recognize the potential for our basketball program to grow. I think my experiences to date in the CIS and beyond have taught me a lot, and I expect to continue to learn and grow as a coach at Ryerson. My hope is to help my future student-athletes learn and grow as well."
Clarke takes over a Ryerson squad that has made the OUA quarter-finals in each of the last four seasons. The Rams finished fifth in the OUA East division this past year with an 11-11 record. After upsetting the fourth-place Queen's Gaels 71-66 in the first-round of the playoffs, the Rams season came to a close with a loss to OUA champion Ottawa in the quarter-finals.
Clarke believes her philosophies match those of the Department of Athletics. She is excited about helping her student-athletes be successful on the court, in the classroom and throughout the campus and community, while developing Ryerson's women's basketball into a premiere CIS program.
"My goal with the team is to make them a consistent contender at the national level," said Clarke. "This is not something that will happen overnight, but I look forward to building on the team's recent successes and not being afraid to set high goals and reach new heights."
The Rams will open the 2012-13 OUA regular season against the Lakehead Thunderwolves on November 9 at Mattamy Athletic Centre.
Source: Ryerson Athletics
