The Warriors women's basketball program is very excited to announce the hiring of full-time associate coach Hayley Robertson, the first full-time assistant hiring in the history of the team.
Robertson joins the Warriors after a very successful playing career with the Rams women's basketball team from 2018-20, playing under the leadership of current Warriors head coach Jessica Roque who was an assistant at the time. Robertson won an OUA silver medal with the Rams in 2020 and played in the National Championship both in 2019 and 2020. In her second season with the Rams, Robertson was named the team MVP. She graduated with a Masters of Business Administration with a focus in sports business.
Robertson comes to the Warriors with support from the Coaches Association of Ontario (CAO) Post Secondary Female Assistant Coach Salary Support grant, an initiative aimed at supporting female coaching opportunities and excellence in Ontario.
"We are very excited to have Hayley join our department," said associate director, Brian Bourque. "Securing this funding from the CAO program supports our ongoing strategy to provide both opportunities and development of female coaches. Jessica and Hayley have great chemistry and we are pleased to have two very knowledgeable and passionate female leaders guiding our student-athletes."
Having built a coach-player relationship that will now further develop court side, Roque is eager at the opportunity to work with Robertson and grow their program into contenders.
"I could not be more pleased to bring Hayley on board to our already budding staff," said Roque. "Because of her work ethic, her accomplishments in basketball thus far come as no surprise. Her passion for people and competitive desire will add tremendous value to our team. Even more rewarding than coaching her, I will now get to continue to share the bench and work alongside her."
Robertson also spent time as a student-athlete in the NCAA at the University of Vermont playing for the Catamounts from 2015-18.
"I am very excited to be joining the Warriors coaching staff with a team that has tremendous potential," said Robertson. "Jess has an unbelievable energy and I have seen firsthand her ability to make a positive impact on student-athletes. The University of Waterloo is an excellent academic institution and has great community support. I am excited to learn from Jess, to start working with the student-athletes, and to build our women's basketball program."
Prior to her time as a student-athlete at Vermont, Robertson was a member of the Brampton Warriors JUEL program and played high school basketball at Bill Crothers Secondary School where she became the team captain in her graduating year in 2015.
"I know Hayley will thrive as a coach in our environment. She has a very high basketball IQ and will be an incredible asset to our coaching staff and our student-athletes," mentioned Roque. "I'm extremely grateful to our department and leadership for supporting Hayley's arrival to the Warriors and very excited for the future and growth of our women's basketball program."
