KAMLOOPS – With today’s announcement of her appointment as head coach for the WolfPack women’s volleyball team, Carrie Barrett is looking forward to heading up the program for a seventh year.

“I would like to thank my family, team, coaching staff, and members of the community for their support over the years,” said Barrett, who led the WolfPack in its inaugural season in the CIS last year, has coached championship teams at the university, college and club levels and has been recognized for coaching excellence.

She came to Thompson Rivers University (then the University College of the Cariboo) in the fall of 2000 from the University of Alberta, where she was assistant coach of the team that won national championships two years in a row and head coach of the U-20 provincial champion team. She also holds a bachelor’s degree in sport performance from that university.

Barrett helped lead the 2002 Team BC to a national silver medal in 2003, was awarded a BCCAA Coaching Excellence Award in 2003 and led her varsity team to provincial bronze in 2004 and provincial gold and a fair play award in 2005.

I believe that Thompson Rivers University supports its student athletes and its athletic programs. With the development of on campus infrastructure, student support programs, and outstanding access to a quality education, the university sells itself when it comes to attracting student athletes from home and abroad,” said Barrett, who stresses academic performance and is firmly committed to the concept of an all-around athlete. “I am honoured to be given the opportunity to represent TRU as the head coach of the women’s volleyball team. I am excited with the group of outstanding student athletes, both returning and joining our program next season and look forward to continuing to move the program forward,” she added. “I feel fortunate to have an established volleyball club in Kamloops that works hard in supporting developing athletes, and making volleyball accessible to everyone in Kamloops and area.”

In addition to her coaching duties at TRU, Barrett remains active at the club level. Over the next few months, she will act as associate coach with U18 Team BC, including hosting team tryouts at TRU on the long weekend in May, training in Vancouver and at TRU in July and then competing in the national championship in Winnipeg at the end of that month.

In and around those responsibilities, Barrett, who is bringing recruiting to a close, will also spend time finalizing an exhibition schedule and fundraising plans, including the resurrection of the October sports swap.

For more information, please contact Carrie Barrett at 250-318-0789 or Ken Olynyk at 250-320-4263.