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New Blood for Broncos Athletics
The march towards entry into the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference
continues unabated for Olds College.
As part of the ambitious plan by the college’s athletics department to eventually earn full membership for all its programs at the highest rung of college sports in the province, they’ve begun moving some staff members around and bringing in new blood to the department.
Last week the college introduced its new athletic programmer Reg Carrick after Bob Murray accepted a move over to fitness centre supervisor.
Most recently, Carrick served as assistant women’s basketball coach at SAIT Polytechnic in Calgary and brings to the Bronco's program a vast amount of experience in athletics having also coached at West Virginia Tech University, Brandon University, Delta State in Mississippi as well as University of Northern British Columbia in Prince George.
“I hadn’t heard much about Olds College before,” Carrick explained in an interview with the Albertan. “But after talking to the people here about their goal of getting into the ACAC … I think it’s a natural proposal and something I wanted to be a part of.”
He said he knew there was some chemistry there when an initial meeting that was scheduled for 30 minutes extended into two-plus hours. What he found most exciting about the school’s proposal to move up to the ACAC is that they had the facility first, one that already surpasses many of those already in the conference.
“With this facility, I don’t think we have to apologize to anybody that we’re a rural community,” he said. “And I see being a small community as an advantage.”
In addition to his experience as a college coach, Carrick has been highly involved in club basketball in Calgary with the Out West Basketball Association, the largest girls basketball club in Alberta.
All his coaching and programming experience was something that made Carrick a good fit for Olds College, according to Director of Health and Wellness Services Greg Lendvay. Not only does he see it benefiting the college athletic teams, but something that can breathe new life into the club basketball program.
“We’re all particularly excited to have someone with Reg’s experience,” he said. “And he has a tremendous knowledge in the club system.”
One of the goals of the club and intercollegiate athletics programs would be to help create depth of coaches in addition to a depth of athletes. “We can really reach out and get involved with the grassroots,” he said.
In addition to his work in athletic programming, Carrick will be involved in the application the department plans on submitting to the ACAC by November. Overall, he’s excited about the work ahead and the prospects for Broncos athletics. “I’m just going to try to bring as much of my experience that I can,” Carrick enthused.
Lendvay said the department expects to announce further arrivals and changes in the coming weeks as they gear up for what is hoped to be a big year for Broncos athletics
