Matt Spencer will take over the St. Francis Xavier X-Women basketball program. The Antigonish native is an X alumnus but spent th
Matt Spencer will take over the St. Francis Xavier X-Women basketball program.
The Antigonish native is an X alumnus but spent the majority of his 20-year coaching career out West and in Ontario. Most notably, Spencer was an assistant and associate coach with the Calgary Dinos women’s team from 2013-20, followed by two years as an assistant with Laurentian University in Sudbury, Ont.
“As a proud Xaverian, I am honoured and excited to be named the next head coach of the X-Women basketball program,” Spencer said in a news release. “Having spent my youth cheering for the X-Women and X-Men teams across all sports, I know what it means to be a St. F.X. fan. Having spent four memorable years as a member of the X-Men cross-country team, I also know what it means to represent St. F.X. as a student-athlete. The opportunity to return to Antigonish and serve St. F.X. Athletics as a head coach is more than I could have hoped for.”
Spencer also has extensive experience as a youth coach and with Basketball Canada’s Targeted Athlete program.
“When (athletic director Leo MacPherson) outlined St. F.X.’s strategic vision, including facility upgrades and continued commitment to student-athlete leadership training, it was clear to me that St. F.X. Athletics is completely committed to building on its rich tradition of excellence on and off the playing surface and I am anxious and excited to be a part of that,” said Spencer, who was also an assistant at the University of Western Ontario for two seasons.
“I cannot thank the university leadership enough for entrusting me at the helm of the women’s basketball program. I cannot wait to get on campus to meet our student-athletes and get to work. We will continue to build a program that St. F.X. can be proud of – one rooted in selflessness and persistence.”
The X-Women finished the 2021-22 season in seventh place in the AUS with a 2-14 record. Tyrone Watson replaced Lee Anna Osei as head coach at mid-season on an interim basis.
“We are excited to have Matt Spencer join St. F.X. Athletics and lead our X-Women basketball program,” MacPherson said in a news release. “Matt has added great value to each team he has coached with and is more than ready to take on this role as head coach of our women’s basketball program. He will bring the necessary knowledge and passion to build a championship culture over time.”
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