OTTAWA, Ontario — Carleton Ravens football is pleased to welcome Nadia Doucoure to our coaching staff. Doucoure is the team’s first woman coach and was recently introduced to the Ravens football community during the team’s year-end virtual celebration. Her new title is Offensive Assistant – Receivers Coach.
“Having Nadia join our staff has been a great addition to the program,” said Ravens Head Coach Steve Sumarah. “She has extensive coaching experience in the High-Performance Program in her native France, as well as playing and coaching experience in Saskatchewan. Nadia will be working closely with Receivers Coach Youssy Pierre, who is also a new addition to our staff. We are excited to have Nadia in our program and look forward to getting back on the field this fall.”
Doucoure has been involved in football since 2002, coaching her local football club in La Courneuve, France and has played high-level flag football and rugby for decades. Her passion for football became a full-time career in 2006 when she was named Technical Advisor of France’s National Federation of American Football. She has been coaching and developing high-performance football programs ever since. Doucoure says she is excited to coach with the Ravens.
“I am happy and proud to be involved in Canadian high-performance football with a great coaching staff. The coming months will be very exciting especially if COVID-19 lets us play and have a season.”
Doucoure says being a woman coaching a men’s team will prove how inclusive the sport of football truly is.
“I think Steve took a very big step by having a woman coach on his staff. The players will understand even more that football is more inclusive than any other sport. The words 'football has a place for everyone' is very true in my experience.”
Looking ahead to the fall, Doucoure says she will rely on her wealth of knowledge and experience to be successful. “I'm just a coach, so I'll do my job as I know how to do it – making sure that the players are safe and able to give their best at every practice and every game.”
