WATERLOO, Ont. - Laurier Athletics and Recreation has announced that Laura Vere (VEER) has been named the full-time assistant coach for its women's basketball program.

Vere, who joined the Golden Hawks as a part-time assistant coach in 2019/20, was named the team's associate head coach under long-time manager of women's basketball operations and head coach Paul Falco before the start of last year. 

"We are pleased to add Laura as a full-time assistant coach with our program," said Falco. "She has a great understanding of the game and a real passion to help student-athletes be successful both on and off the court."

The Stratford, Ont. native found her way to Laurier after an impressive playing career as a team captain, starting point guard, and team MVP during five seasons with Fanshawe of the Ontario Colleges Athletic Association (OCAA).

In 2019, Vere won a conference championship with the Falcons while also being a key contributor to a pair of OCAA bronze medal squads.

"It means a lot to me to have this opportunity to help our student-athletes grow and develop on and off the court as a full-time coach," said Vere.

"We have a great group of student-athletes, both returning and incoming, that I look forward to watching film and getting in the gym with," she said. "Specifically our senior group, I feel like I was a rookie coach with them in their first years, so to see them grow over the past five years and be here, full time, with them in their final seasons feels kind of full circle."

Having started the transition to coaching in September 2017 as an assistant for the London Ramblers Juel Prep team, Vere expressed how she "wouldn't be where I am today without some important coaches in my life who believed in me, including Coach Falco and my college and high school coaches."

"I'm so grateful for them and look forward to growing more as a coach by being more involved in the day-to-day operations of our program."