Barnard becomes full-time assistant coach for Queen’s women’s basketball

Queen’s Gaels women’s basketball interim head coach James Bambury announced on Monday, Jun. 10, 2019 that Nicole Barnard will be taking on a larger role with the women’s basketball team as a full-time assistant coach.

“We are incredibly excited to have Nicole joining our staff on a full-time basis,” said Bambury. “Nicole has been a member of our program since 2013-14 when she joined us as a player. She has grown to be a leader within the community, as well as in our program, running many different Gaels camps, coaching in our community with the Kingston Impact, and finally while as a member of our staff for the past two years. Nicole’s passion for the sport of basketball is only surpassed by her commitment to the student-athletes she works with on a daily basis.”

Barnard has been an assistant with the women’s program for the past two seasons and herself is a former Gael having suited up for the Tricolour for one season in 2013-14. She began her coaching career in 2013 by getting involved with the Kingston Impact (now Junior Gaels) program. Over the past six years with the Impact she has been an assistant with both the U13 and U15 girls programs and the co-head coach of the U19 junior girls. She has also spent time with the KCVI senior girls team as an assistant coach. She is expected to be a National Coaching Certification Program (NCCP) certified Level 2 coach at the end of the Fall.

“I am incredibly excited to take this next step with our program,” Barnard said of the new position. “To have the opportunity to be a part of a program that continually strives to be and compete with the best in the country; is an experience that will no doubt help me to grow as a young coach. I am looking forward to working with an exceptional group of student-athletes, and for the exciting future ahead for our program here at Queen’s.”

Barnard is a familiar face with Queen’s holding several additional roles including within home events, camps and within the finance unit in the Athletics department.

The Gaels open their 2019-20 OUA season on the road at Nipissing and host Guelph on Friday, Nov. 1, 2019 in their home opener.