CAO’s Empowering Stories from Behind the Bench article series – August 2024
“We need to focus on opportunities for female coaches, not just for students and athletes”
By David Grossman
She is looking for leaders.
Forget the motley crew of individuals who just want to go out and impersonate the role of, let’s say, being a coach, an influencer or even a luminary.
Hailey (Milligan) Jones is focussed on a certain type of person who is passionate about people and has a desire to teach, influence and get things done the right way. They are out there – and Jones is doing everything she can, short of putting up a ‘WANTED’ sign.
High on her list, Jones is looking for women to take on superior responsibilities in sport.
“There is a need for more females in sport leadership – be it coaching, officiating, or administrative,” said Jones, who, this past year, conducted a series of free National Coaching Certification Program workshops for female-identifying coaches and leaders.
Talk with Jones and she’s adamant about a problem that has gone on for years.
“It’s well past the time of ending maltreatment in sport,” she said. “I’m not just looking for an individual who coaches a team, but someone who provides opportunities to inform, understand signs of neglect and abuse. Not just someone who shows up with a bag of balls.”
Jones is a consultant with Generation Safe, a Canadian organization that focuses on education and preventing maltreatment in sports.
While statistically, there is a shortage of coaches in Ontario – be it at the club level, the community, or educational institutions, Jones says a coach needs to encompass all fundamentals of the job. Clearly on her mind, she wants people who are observant, cautious, and act when things may not be right.
“We need to be part of the solution through offering opportunities to educate and train the next generation of coaches,” she said.
These are strong words and a clear message from Jones, who is a high energetic and passionate individual. She’s also one who has devoted a great deal of time breaking down barriers and ensuring the right people are positive mentors.
Born in Hamilton and raised in Brantford, she played basketball in her younger years, has coached, officiated and is now the Sport and Community Development Specialist for the Town of Aurora.
It’s more than just a job, but a position of responsibility that examines the crucial aspects of sport while simultaneously providing opportunities to coaches, athletes, and local sporting organizationsin the town to develop leadership skills, communications strategies and diversity, equity, and inclusion priorities.
For her, it’s always a people first approach to success.
The Coaches Association of Ontario (CAO), in a series of empowering feature stories, continues to highlight the brilliant work, dedication and effort of people like Jones. Through the power of coaching, there are opportunities for more than just a celebration of sports across the province, but inspiring moments of effective mentorship, education and enforcing rules.
The mother of two youngsters, Jones spent her school years playing basketball for Assumption College in Brantford. A 6-foot-3 forward, then known as Hailey Milligan, she was a captain, leading scorer, and all-star. As a junior-age player, she was on the senior roster that won an Ontario high school championship.
Recruiting coaches at Canisius College in Buffalo liked what they saw and were quick to offer her a full athletic scholarship. However, after the beginning of her second season, she had enough. Her preference was to play for a female coach in a positive environment closer to home, and she transferred to Hamilton’s McMaster University. She would also graduate with an Honours Bachelors’ Degree.
“At McMaster, I was fortunate to see a measure of success with coaches reaching out and impacting positively on people’s lives,” she said. “My days at McMaster, they changed me for the better.”
Chosen the top female athlete in her graduating year at McMaster, and a recipient of two major awards for excellence in the classroom, on the field of play and in the community, her competitive days moved on to playing the professional game in the Czech Republic. That would only last for one season do to a lingering knee injury that would require several surgeries.
As for coaching, something that always was very important to her, she launched that part of her life 10 years ago.
With an impressive career that includes working as a course facilitator, leadership and mental skills coach, and university sports manager, she was responsible for a Canadian Women’s Foundation initiative that encouraged women to focus on living healthy and active lifestyles.
“Sports was always in the family and participating was my outlet,” she said. “I learned a great deal and my father was also a basketball player. If you can see it, you can be it.”
There was a time when Jones had aspired to work in a school classroom as a teacher. In her university days, she would thrive on working with marginalized youth. Sport was used to break down barriers and create pathways to success. These days, she is proud to work in an organization that prioritizes gender equity and supports innovative thinking.
Recently, the Canadian Centre for Sport and Ethics (CCES) recognized her as a True Sport Champion. It’s a nation-wide program that emphasizes the power of committed coaches, volunteers, and community leaders who want to spread the values that result in good sport, making a positive difference.
As for Jones, she’s created a work plan for Aurora that leads to more women stepping into leadership roles. As well, she is responsible for the development of a girls and gender diverse high school leadership credit course – focussing on strengths in recreation and healthy active living – where students can obtain a diploma credit in their graduating year.
“We need to focus on opportunities for female coaches, not just for students and athletes,” she said. “Sport is changing and evolving in many ways. Coaches are individuals who have a great impact on people’s lives.
“Maltreatment exists from an old school style of coaching that was male dominated. I experienced verbal, emotional, and mental abuse in sport. Coaches have a responsibility to ensure that young people are always safe – and people need a sense of belonging.”
-END-
David Grossman is a veteran multi award-winning Journalist and Broadcaster with some of Canada’s major media, including the Toronto Star and SPORTSNET 590 THE FAN, and a Public Relations professional for 45+ years in Canadian sports and Government relations.
“Sports was always in the family and participating was my outlet. I learned a great deal and my father was also a basketball player. If you can see it, you can be it.”
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