WATERLOO, Ont. - Laurier women's lacrosse co-head coach Tamara Grant (BA, '05) is adding to her coaching portfolio after being named head coach of Team Ontario Lacrosse's U17 women's field team.

Grant, a former Golden Hawks women's lacrosse goaltender, team captain, and two-time Ontario University Athletics (OUA) champion, will also enter her third season patrolling the Laurier sidelines alongside fellow co-head coach Erica Shortt this September.

Grant and Shortt were inducted into the Golden Hawks Hall of Fame in 2017 with the 2003 OUA championship team. 

Admitting that she didn't apply for the role but was recruited, she described being excited about having the added responsibility of guiding the next wave of elite lacrosse players in the province.

"I'm looking forward to showcasing and providing mentorship to athletes in the Team Ontario program. I also hope to provide a new and exciting experience for the athletes on the team," Grant said. "I have a deep passion to see athletes achieve their dreams in sport and beyond."

"This is a great opportunity to bring together dynamic, talented, and hard-working athletes from our province to compete at an elite level. It's also a valuable learning opportunity for me."

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Having coached and mentored athletes for over 25 years in a variety of sports, Grant has a strong value system for community, collaboration, and connection through sports and competition. 

Her deep connections to the local lacrosse community remain strong, as she currently is part of the KW Kodiaks' organization as the Director of Girls' Field Lacrosse, and is responsible for overseeing all programming connected with girls' field lacrosse in Kitchener-Waterloo. The program has seen much success under her leadership, with numerous new and innovative ideas for promoting, growing, and fostering the love of the game within the community. 

She has coached in the region since 2018 and has been a part of a variety of age groups from U9-U19. Her teams and staff have found a lot of success over the years and, as a result, she was named the OWFL Coach of the Year in 2019 for U11 and in 2023 for U15.

Referred to as "Coach T", she has also led her teams to medal honours at a variety of divisions and age groups, including in 2024 when the U15 KW Kodiaks were crowned provincial champions. 

When she's not focusing on lacrosse, basketball has become her other passion, working at PGC Basketball and volunteering her time with the Kitchener Waterloo Girls Basketball Association Phoenix.

Looking ahead at what's to come with Team Ontario. Grant admitted that "plans are up in the air."

"We are looking at a Sixes event in July, hoping to put together an OUA showcase opportunity, and have two additional opportunities in the works. Dates and announcements will follow once our evaluation period is over."