After Niagara College wrapped up its hosting duties for basketball events during week one of the Niagara 2022 Canada Summer Games, the Welland Campus gymnasium quickly transitioned to welcome volleyball teams for the final week of the Games, August 16-21.
Among those on campus is Natasha Spaling – former NC Knights women’s volleyball Coach (2018-2019) and current Assistant Coach at Guelph University. Spaling is back in the Niagara region as an Assistant Coach with Team Ontario’s women’s volleyball team. During her time with the Knights, Spaling led the team to an Ontario Colleges Athletic Association (OCAA) silver medal finish, followed by an appearance at the Canadian College Athletic Association (CCAA) Nationals as the host institution.
Niagara Knights Communications and Events Coordinator, Lindsay English, caught up with Spaling to see what she’s been up to since leaving NC in 2019.
How does it feel being back at Niagara College coaching for Team Ontario? Does it bring back any fond memories from your time coaching the Knights?
Coaching back at Niagara College feels like coming home! It is where I had my first coaching opportunity, the first time I was able to lead a program, and I hold it very close to my heart.
My time with Niagara was really special. I was young and certainly not a perfect coach, but I learned so many lessons and had so many incredible people that helped me along my coaching journey there. We did some pretty great things that year, got a silver medal in provincials and got the unique experience of hosting/playing in the CCAA championships. But the best part for me is always the people. Our team worked really hard that year on creating a strong culture and foundation to build the program on and I was very proud of that.
I think one of the best parts of coming back to NC was that Natasha Desjardins (women’s volleyball and soccer athlete and Knights Athlete of the Year) carried the torch through Niagara during our training camp (held at NC’s Welland Campus in July 2022). So, I got to see and support one of my former athletes during this once in a lifetime moment.
Natasha Spaling (far right) with the Knights 2018-19 women’s volleyball team who rallied to a silver medal finish at the OCAA Championship. (Photo taken at tournament host Cambrian College)
What have you been up to since leaving Niagara College?
After I left Niagara, I spent two years as a full-time assistant coach at Queens University. During my time with Queens, I worked with the Kingston Rock volleyball program, coached with Team Ontario Elite and other provincial team programs as well (all in the process of leading into Canada Games).
I currently work at Guelph University as an Intercollegiate Coordinator in their athletic department as well as an Assistant Coach for their women’s volleyball team. I am a mentor coach with the Jr. Gryphons volleyball club in Guelph. I also coached with the U21 national team this past May as we competed in Mexico.
I have been a member of the Canada Games coaching staff since September 2019 and I AM SO EXCITED that it is finally here. There have been a few times through the pandemic when I wasn’t sure that it was going to happen, so I am so full of joy that it is finally happening!
How did you get involved with coaching Team Ontario and how has your experience been so far? Is this your first Canada Summer Games experience?
Natasha Spaling coaching for the Knights women’s volleyball team at the OCAA Championship in 2018-19. (Photo taken at tournament host Cambrian College)
This is my first Canada Games experience – which is incredibly lucky! I originally got involved with Team Ontario back when I was completing my Master’s in Coaching in 2016/2017. I was lucky enough to have Alix Khran (current Head Coach of the Manitoba Canada Games Team) select me as her assistant. I had a really incredible experience that summer so I kept coming back.
What got me on to the Canada Games coaching staff a few years ago actually stemmed from my time at Niagara College. We competed and battled against St. Clair College quite a few times that season, and little did I know that a short time later I would be hired by St. Clair’s Head Coach, Jimmy El-Turk, to be his assistant for the Canada Summer Games in Niagara.
Going for gold is obviously the top priority for Team Ontario, but what other goals do you have for your team and yourself throughout the Games experience?
Our goals are always pretty simple: Create a safe environment for the athletes to play freely; help them to grow/learn as athletes; build positive relationships and support our athletes.
If we can do that then we have done a pretty good job.
It sounds like you have been busy doing great things to build your coaching portfolio since leaving Niagara. Do you miss anything about being at NC?
THE PEOPLE!!! Some of the absolute best people work at Niagara. I owe so much of where I am now to that place and those people.
Michele O’Keefe (Knights Athletic Director) is one of the best leaders and role models I could ever ask for. I value her opinion and admire her strength as a leader in sport.
Ray Sarkis (Knights Varsity Coordinator) hired me, and I am endlessly grateful for him taking a chance on me as the head coach of the team. Tommy Sloan (Knights women’s volleyball Coach) was an incredible supporter and friend. And of course, the most influential group – my athletes. My team was full of good humans that made my experience there truly unforgettable.
