Women's basketball: Slipp-ing into new role at UW

It's not the only offseason coaching change in women's basketball, but it's worth noting that Tyler Slipp, previously an assistant coach with Simon Fraser, will be the head coach of the Waterloo Warriors next season. It's his first head coaching job in the CIS after a year assisting an extremely successful coach out west and four years at UNB.

UW's a good place for Slipp to start his coaching career. Since 2004-2005, the Warriors have finished 6-16, 5-17, 10-12, and 12-10 last year (plus a pair of playoff games). Waterloo should also have Reanne Holden, their red-shirted transfer from York, in the lineup this fall, so there's certainly enough talent for Slipp to work with. However, that four-year record increase coincides with the rise of two graduating players: Gillian Maxwell and Kate Poulin, who logged a lot of minutes and scored a lot of points last year. So there's also work to be done with the returning players, but Waterloo's student body is also, shall we say, not exactly crazy about athletics. The pressure on Slipp will likely be lessened compared to Simon Fraser. (The previous coach lasted just a year, too, so there isn't any shoe-filling he isn't capable of.)

SFU's dominance in women's basketball is well-known around these parts and if Slipp can bring some of that success to southwestern Ontario, it will certainly improve Waterloo's chances.

As a side note, Tyler Slipp's from a basketball family (mom Joyce is in the Canadian Hall of Fame and coached UNB for several years, a few with her son by her side; dad Dick played for the Varsity Reds and also assistant-coached for a bit), meaning he should fit right in with the Kieswetter clan surrounding the men's team.