University of Regina women's soccer assistant coach Karlee Vorrieter has been selected for the 2024 U SPORTS Female Apprentice Coach Program, funded through Sport Canada.

Vorrieter played from 2012 to 2016 with the Cougars and has stayed involved with the program since then, first as a team manager before joining the coaching staff prior to the 2021 season. Vorrieter works primarily with the team's midfielders.

"I am thrilled to be selected as a participant for this program alongside many other incredible female coaches," Vorrieter said. "I was honoured to return to the Cougars as an assistant coach, giving me a chance to contribute to a program that gave me so much. Transitioning from a student-athlete to a coach at the University of Regina is an exciting opportunity and I can think of no better place to continue my journey than with the Cougar women's soccer team."

Originally launched in the 2020-2021 school season, the U SPORTS Female Apprentice Coach Program aims to increase the number of females in coaching positions across Canadian universities. The Program matches apprentice coaches who have recently graduated, with a head coach in one of 12 U SPORTS-sanctioned sports for female-identifying student-athletes.

All participants in the program will be a member of the coaching staff at their respective schools and where possible, will provide feedback to colleagues as well as student-athletes, while taking part in team activities. Each apprentice coach also has the opportunity to also take professional development courses and seminars in the field of coaching - a minimum of 20 per cent of the allotted grant must be earmarked for professional development activities.