SFU athletics department investigating ‘concerns’ of women’s soccer team players

Coach Annie Hamel’s squad will instead be “under the direction of other members of the athletics staff,” for the time being, according to an email

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The SFU Red Leafs women’s soccer team will be “under the direction of other members of the athletics staff,” while the school’s athletic department looks into “concerns,” raised by players, according to an email from senior director of athletics Theresa Hanson late Friday.

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The three-paragraph email never directly mentioned Annie Hamel, who has been SFU’s coach since 2014. She remains listed on the team’s roster in that position.

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“As an institution committed to delivering an exceptional student-athlete experience, we find the allegations very troubling,” Hanson continued in her email. “Student-athlete safety and wellbeing is our priority. SFU Athletics is conducting a thorough investigation, which includes working with our student-athletes to understand the situation and ensure they are receiving the support and services they need.” 

SFU finished 5-7-7 overall and 4-5-5 in Great Northwest Athletic Conference play in the season that wrapped up in November, pushing their overall record with Hamel at the helm to 47-75-14 overall and 39-55-8 in conference. 

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A native of Magog, Que., Hamel joined SFU after five seasons as the top assistant coach at Saint Leo University, a rival NCAA Div. II program in Saint Leo, Florida.

SFU had six swimmers declared ineligible for the nationals earlier this month when the program was deemed non-compliant with an NCAA participation bylaw this season and the school’s football team announced in February that its Texas-based Lone Star Conference would not be renewing its affiliate membership agreement after this season, leaving the team looking for a new league to play in. 


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reference: theprovince.com

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