UPEI women’s basketball coach steps down

Carly Clarke announced her resignation as head coach of the UPEI Women's Basketball Panthers today at a team meeting as she has accepted an offer from Ryerson University to fill their vacant Women's Basketball Coach position. Clarke had completed her third season with the Panthers.

UPEI Director of Athletics and Recreation Ron Annear said, 'It's disappointing to lose a quality, young female coach but this is a good career step for Carly and also an opportunity to be closer to her family who resides in Toronto.'

Clarke said, 'I could not be more thankful for the opportunity UPEI has provided me over the past three years. I would like to thank the athletics department, university, alumni, and community for their support during my time as a Panther. Most importantly, I would like to thank the student-athletes for their hard work and dedication, I will miss them greatly and am excited to follow them as the program continues to move in the right direction.'

'I know it was with mixed emotions that Carly made this decision, but I respect her situation and thank her for all her efforts in building the team over the last few years,' added Annear.

Originally from Halifax, Clarke attended Bishop's University in Lennoxville, Quebec, where she competed with the Gaiters women's basketball program for five years while earning a Bachelor of Science in Biology.

Following her playing career, Clarke joined the Dalhousie Tigers as an assistant coach for two seasons while completing a Masters in Business Administration. Prior to being hired by the Panthers, she spent a year in Hamilton working with the Canada Basketball's National Elite Development Academy.

In addition to coaching the Panthers, Coach Clarke led several Basketball PEI programs including the U-15 girls provincial team (2010), U-17 girls provincial team (2011), Centre for Performance, and Superskills Basketball Camp. Most recently, she was the head coach for the Cadet Women's National Team that competed at the FIBA America Championships earning a bronze medal, and a berth in the u17 World Championships being held August 17-26, 2012, in the Netherlands.

UPEI will begin its search for a replacement immediately and Annear hopes to have a job description posted through local and national channels by the first of next week.