More than 20 years ago, Carly Clarke wrote an essay about what makes a great coach.
Now, with four OUA titles and a U Sports national championship with the TMU Bold, two Olympic Games with Team Canada – and the recently announced move to assistant coach with the Toronto Tempo – she’s living the blueprint she once wrote as a first-year university student.
Today, what she scribbled down in English class isn’t just theory.
It’s how she leads.
Clarke’s mom found the essay in her daughter’s trunk at their Nova Scotia home and gave it to her this past Christmas.
The theme was unmistakable.
“It was so interesting to see how my philosophy now mirrors what I wrote,” Clarke said.
A snapshot of part of the essay Carly Clarke wrote in her first year of university about how to be a great coach. Her mom wrapped it up and gave it to her this past Christmas. (Photo courtesy of Carly Clarke)