Bev Priestman: The Coach Behind Canada’s Olympic Success
The success of Canada at the Olympics was in no way due to luck. They have been working up to this Olympic accomplishment for quite some time. With hard work, determination, and respected leaders, there was no doubt that Canada would be a fierce gold medal contender at the Tokyo Olympics. One of the biggest influences behind the team’s success and the gold medal was head coach Bev Priestman.
Bev Priestman was appointed the head coach role only nine months before the first Tokyo match. Additionally, she is the first coach to lead Canada’s women’s team to a gold medal in the Olympic Games. The search for a national team coach included several qualified female candidates seeking success and striving to win games for Canada. The decision to onboard Bev Priestman was a no-brainer.
She came in and took control of a powerful squad of athletes. She quickly gained the respect of her players, which is crucial when coaching so many talented high-level athletes. Although she is an England native, Priestman has experience coaching Canada’s U-17 and U-20 women’s squads and assisted former Canadian national team head coach John Herdman. Her resume speaks for itself, and her dedication to the Canadian national team since 2013 has helped her understand what the team stands for and expects of a head coach.
Not only has Priestman led her team to an Olympic gold medal, but she persevered through a global pandemic, organized her team in only a few months, and confronted the adversity that women face in a head coach position. Priestman has proved herself a true leader and paves the way for younger girls who may aspire to play at a high level or coach at a high level. She is a true role model and proves that men are not the only ones bringing home gold.
Bev Priestman’s positivity and true belief in her squad to get the job done were key to her success. She stressed the importance of being brave and taking on anything that may come their way. Even if it meant making big game-time decisions on substitutes and formation changes, such as in the final match against Sweden, Priestman had to adjust her team’s play based on how the games were going; some decisions may have caught fans and even its players by surprise.
However, she did what was best for her team to succeed. First, she explained to her players that nothing would be handed to them, and they needed to work for the chance to play in the gold medal match. Then, after Canada defeated Brazil—a favorite for the gold—in a penalty shootout, Priestman knew her team could stand at the top of the podium.
It is not only important to have a strong, talented group of players, but it is also crucial for those in charge to have the team’s best interest at heart. Priestman has set the standard for female coaches, and the future for the Canadian national team is bright. They will continue celebrating becoming Olympic champions but get right back to work to prepare for the 2023 Women’s World Cup.
Featured image via @canadasoccer on Instagram
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