MA News: Canada Appoints Coaching Staff for Women's Soccer
April 23rd, 2007
Canadian Women's Soccer Head Coach Steve Johnson
A familiar face will lead the Canadian women’s team at the 2007 Universiade in Bangkok, Thailand (August 8-18) as the University of Ottawa’s Steve Johnson returns as head coach. Johnson previous led the Canadian women’s team at the 2001 Universiade in Beijing, China and was an assistant coach and general manager with the 2005 squad in Izmir, Turkey. He will be joined on the bench by Marc Mounicot who will serve as an assistant coach after leading Canada to its best result (fifth place) in women’s football at the 2005 Universiade. The University of Toronto’s Beth McCharles will serve as team leader. “This year’s team has generated great interest amongst the top players in the country,” said Johnson. “It is clear that we will be able to build on the successful results of the 2005. Regional camps are being organized across the country to evaluate and prepare the players for the games.” Johnson boasts 15 years of CIS coaching experience, 13 with the University of Ottawa and two with Mount Allison University. During his tenure with the Gee-Gees, Ottawa has won six OUA Championships and advanced to eight CIS National Championships. His teams have captured six national medals including one gold, three silvers and two bronze. Johnson has twice been named OUA Coach of the Year and in 1996, he was recognized as CIS Coach of the Year. Canada will play in a pool with China, South Africa and Great Britain at the 2007 Universiade in Bangkok, Thailand.
Before leading the team in 2005, Mounicot was an assistant under Johnson at the 2001 Universiade in Beijing, China. This fall will mark Mounicot’s 10th as head coach at McGill. His teams have won eight QSSF Championships and advanced to eight CIS National Championships where the Martlets have medaled four times (two silvers, two bronze). A three-time QSSF Coach of the Year, Mounicot was recognized as QSSF’s University Coach of the Year (all sports) in 2003. During his own playing career, Mounicot was a two-time CIS All-Canadian and QSSF MVP and he was a member of McGill’s 1997 CIS National Championship squad. A French National Team player in 1985, Mounicot played professionally in France before serving as a provincial coach in Quebec for 10 years. McCharles was named OUA Coach of the Year in her first season as head coach with the University of Toronto this past season. She previously spent three years as an assistant with the Varsity Blues and one year as a goalkeeper coach with Johnson at Ottawa. McCharles has experience as both a player and a coach at the Universiade. She served as an assistant under Mounicot in 2005 and was a player with both the 2001 (Beijing, China) and 2003 (Daegu, South Korea) Canadian teams.
