Regina’s Amanda Ruller is one of two recently named female assistant coaches for the football team at McMaster University..The McMaster Marauder football program announced Ruller and Taylor MacIntyre as assistant coaches on Friday..Head coach Stefan Ptaszek said the pair will help the Hamilton team as they defend their Yates Cup as Ontario University Athletics football champions..“What stood out about Taylor and Amanda was their passion for football, for coaching and for teaching,” said Ptaszek, who is now entering his 13th season at McMaster..MacIntyre and Ruller join the 2019 Yates Cup champions with extensive football resumes. The pair hope to make an immediate impact on day-to-day operations of the team while getting involved in offensive game planning and skill development..Ruller, who has 100,000 followers on Instagram, has built a career as a sports performance coach training CFL and university athletes. She worked with the University of Regina football program, and has held several media positions with the Saskatchewan Roughriders, Saskatchewan Rush, and 3DownNation. A competitive Olympic weightlifter, Ruller holds provincial snatch along with clean and jerk records..“My focus on power and speed in the weight room will make sure these athletes find success within their playing season and help keep them healthy,” Ruller said..“My background in competing in Olympic lifting is a great bonus for teaching those skills in the weight room as well. I hope to pass on my knowledge and have our athletes work hard towards a winning season.”.Recognizing the challenge of preparing for the 2021 season following an unprecedented layoff, Ruller is eager to get to work in training camp..“I’m so ready to get on campus and get to work,” she said..“This will be a life-changing experience and I feel very ready for it. I’m happy to be given the opportunity to work with such motivating and decorated coaches.”.MacIntyre has already broken down barriers in the game. As a receiver and back-up quarterback in high school, she helped pave the way for several other young women at Parkside Collegiate Institute in St. Thomas Ont. to compete in what she describes as a ‘male-prominent’ sport..Since becoming the first female to play on the school’s men’s football team, at least five additional female student-athletes have followed in her footsteps..“McMaster Football recognized a gender gap in coaching football in the OUA and saw an opportunity to grow their program in a different way,” MacIntyre said..“I’m looking forward to learning from some of the best coaches in Canada and joining an organization that clearly values diversity.”.Following her playing career, MacIntyre became Parkside’s receivers coach and has held positions with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, the University of Toronto Varsity Blues, and the Special Olympics..The University of Windsor Graduate is campaign manager at Candybox Marketing, and formerly held positions as a reporter and news director in Dawson Creek, B.C..One of those coaches is Corey Grant, McMaster’s offensive coordinator and Equity, Diversity and Inclusion lead who developed the coaching apprenticeship for women program earlier this summer..“Their understanding of the learning process, teaching to the different learning styles and attention to detail will bring tremendous value to the development of our student-athletes on and off the field,” added Grant, who won Grey Cups for Hamilton in 2009 and Saskatchewan in 2007..“Adding these two coaches to our staff will help us win more football games.”.The Marauders will make their long-awaited return to action Sept. 18 against the Western Mustangs in a highly anticipated rematch of the 2019 Yates Cup, before hosting the University of Waterloo Oct. 2 at Ron Joyce Stadium in Hamilton for their home opener..Harding is a Western Standard correspondent based in Saskatchewan
Regina’s Amanda Ruller is one of two recently named female assistant coaches for the football team at McMaster University..The McMaster Marauder football program announced Ruller and Taylor MacIntyre as assistant coaches on Friday..Head coach Stefan Ptaszek said the pair will help the Hamilton team as they defend their Yates Cup as Ontario University Athletics football champions..“What stood out about Taylor and Amanda was their passion for football, for coaching and for teaching,” said Ptaszek, who is now entering his 13th season at McMaster..MacIntyre and Ruller join the 2019 Yates Cup champions with extensive football resumes. The pair hope to make an immediate impact on day-to-day operations of the team while getting involved in offensive game planning and skill development..Ruller, who has 100,000 followers on Instagram, has built a career as a sports performance coach training CFL and university athletes. She worked with the University of Regina football program, and has held several media positions with the Saskatchewan Roughriders, Saskatchewan Rush, and 3DownNation. A competitive Olympic weightlifter, Ruller holds provincial snatch along with clean and jerk records..“My focus on power and speed in the weight room will make sure these athletes find success within their playing season and help keep them healthy,” Ruller said..“My background in competing in Olympic lifting is a great bonus for teaching those skills in the weight room as well. I hope to pass on my knowledge and have our athletes work hard towards a winning season.”.Recognizing the challenge of preparing for the 2021 season following an unprecedented layoff, Ruller is eager to get to work in training camp..“I’m so ready to get on campus and get to work,” she said..“This will be a life-changing experience and I feel very ready for it. I’m happy to be given the opportunity to work with such motivating and decorated coaches.”.MacIntyre has already broken down barriers in the game. As a receiver and back-up quarterback in high school, she helped pave the way for several other young women at Parkside Collegiate Institute in St. Thomas Ont. to compete in what she describes as a ‘male-prominent’ sport..Since becoming the first female to play on the school’s men’s football team, at least five additional female student-athletes have followed in her footsteps..“McMaster Football recognized a gender gap in coaching football in the OUA and saw an opportunity to grow their program in a different way,” MacIntyre said..“I’m looking forward to learning from some of the best coaches in Canada and joining an organization that clearly values diversity.”.Following her playing career, MacIntyre became Parkside’s receivers coach and has held positions with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, the University of Toronto Varsity Blues, and the Special Olympics..The University of Windsor Graduate is campaign manager at Candybox Marketing, and formerly held positions as a reporter and news director in Dawson Creek, B.C..One of those coaches is Corey Grant, McMaster’s offensive coordinator and Equity, Diversity and Inclusion lead who developed the coaching apprenticeship for women program earlier this summer..“Their understanding of the learning process, teaching to the different learning styles and attention to detail will bring tremendous value to the development of our student-athletes on and off the field,” added Grant, who won Grey Cups for Hamilton in 2009 and Saskatchewan in 2007..“Adding these two coaches to our staff will help us win more football games.”.The Marauders will make their long-awaited return to action Sept. 18 against the Western Mustangs in a highly anticipated rematch of the 2019 Yates Cup, before hosting the University of Waterloo Oct. 2 at Ron Joyce Stadium in Hamilton for their home opener..Harding is a Western Standard correspondent based in Saskatchewan