Ex-Rattler gets into coaching

Kaity Letwiniuk came to Medicine Hat College as a top soccer player, and now she’s aiming to be a top coach.

Who better than the Rattlers’ long-time bench boss to help her get there?

The Swift Current native was announced last week as being accepted into the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association’s Female Apprentice Coach Program for the upcoming season. Having graduated after her fifth season with the Rattlers — she was the college’s top female athlete the last two campaigns — Letwiniuk will apprentice with soccer coach and reigning CCAA coach of the year Jim Loughlin.

“I am lucky to continue this journey into coaching by learning from the best,” she said in a press release. “Jim is a talented and experienced coach, and I know I’ll learn a lot from him just as I did when I was a player.”

Already a mentor on and off the pitch, Loughlin has a history of bringing in former players as assistants since he’s in charge of both the men’s and women’s soccer programs at Medicine Hat College. What the CCAA program does is give the college a bit of grant money (up to $2,500 for soccer) and thus more opportunities for women to be involved in coaching as past research has shown a lack of female coaches nationwide.

Letwiniuk is the third Medicine Hat College graduate to be accepted into the program, following Claire Tomczyk in 2008 and Kaitlyn Carter in 2010 (both in women’s basketball). When presented with her latest athlete of the year award this spring, she couldn’t say enough good things about Loughlin and what he’s meant to her.

“It’s not even that he’s my mentor. I see him as more than that,” Letwiniuk told the News March 31. “I never thought that a coach could be like that, and I’m so happy that I have him.”

“Kaity was an outstanding competitor and leader during her CCAA playing days,” said Loughlin in the press release. “I am looking forward to seeing her continue this excellence in a new role as a coach.”