X-Women volleyball head coach Michelle Aucoin to leave coaching profession

Antigonish, NS—StFX Director of Athletics and Recreation Leo MacPherson has announced that X-Women volleyball head coach Michelle Aucoin has made the difficult decision to resign her head coaching position to pursue alternative career options.

“I have nothing but admiration for Michelle and the exceptional job she has done as coach of our volleyball program,” comments MacPherson. “She has led our program to new heights and was named AUS women’s volleyball Coach of the Year in 2010. Michelle was a consummate professional in everything she has done during her time at StFX and she will be missed by all of us. I wish her nothing but success and she will always be a part of the StFX family.”

Coach Aucoin joined the X-Women program in 2006 and over the course of the past five seasons rebuilt the team into one with a solid foundation that made four playoff appearances. Coach Aucoin has grown the X-Women program into a top AUS contender, leading them to an appearance in the AUS final in 2010. The 2009-10 season was the best for Aucoin, whose X-Women finished 11-7 in first place overall in the AUS standings, the first time ever in the history of the program. The 2009-10 performance also garnered Aucoin AUS Coach of the Year honors.

 “It was an extremely difficult decision for me to make to leave StFX,” says Aucoin. “From the moment I stepped on campus five years ago, I have received tremendous support from the athletic department, university administration, faculty and staff, my coaching staff and the community of Antigonish.”

“I have had the pleasure to coach many talented student-athletes, but more importantly, outstanding young women and role models. I believe together we were able to change the face of X-Women volleyball, making StFX an AUS contender, and I am confident the future will be no different with the solid group of returning athletes, and the culture that has been created.” 

“With every tough decision and change comes an opportunity, and I am very excited about the path in front of me as I return to my hometown in Dartmouth to pursue new employment opportunities outside of the coaching profession.”

A former team captain, AUS all-star and CIS academic all-Canadian with Dalhousie University, Coach Aucoin also spent her summers coaching volleyball. In 2010 she was a guest coach with Team Canada in Winnipeg and was an assistant coach with Team Canada’s junior volleyball squad. She acted as a mentor coach for Volleyball Nova Scotia’s elite programs and was very active with youth volleyball in Nova Scotia, conducting numerous skill development clinics throughout the province. Aucoin holds a Level III NCCP coaching certification and a Level I NCCP Course Instructor Certification. 

Aucoin graduated with a BSc and an MBA from Dalhousie University. In addition to her coaching responsibilities at StFX, she also taught a sport management course and skills classes in the Department of Human Kinetics. Prior to coming to StFX, Aucoin was employed with Ocean Nutrition Canada as a Product Manager. Coach Aucoin will remain as the X-Women head coach until June 3, 2010.