BRANDON – Jaime Taggart will be assuming a familiar position this fall as she will be back on the sidelines of the Bobcat women's basketball team.
Taggart has been named Interim Head Coach while James Bambury is on a one-year leave.
Taggart (nee Hickson) is certainly no stranger to the BU Bobcat Athletics program, having led the Bobcats from 2006-2011 and has served as an assistant coach for the last two seasons.
"I'm very excited. My kids are excited. I'm happy to have this opportunity," says Taggart. "I just feel like myself again. When I stumbled across basketball in grade 7 it was a great time for women's basketball in Manitoba and I sunk my teeth into it. Coaching eventually became my passion and I feel like the sport chose me and has taught me so many lessons that it is a privilege to give back to the game."
Since her prior stint with the Bobcats Taggart married and had three children, who are all active in Brandon's youth sports scene.
On top of her familiarity with the Bobcats, Taggart has been instrumental in the development of the Westman Youth Basketball Academy.
"Jaime will provide a seamless transition for the coming season. Her ongoing commitment to youth programming and her work with Bobcat student-athletes as an assistant coach the past two years will benefit the team immediately," says BU Athletic Director Russ Paddock.
A graduate of the University of Winnipeg, where her coaching career started under then Wesmen coach Tanya McKay, Taggart also holds a Masters of Coaching from the University of Victoria where she gained insight from Canadian coaching legends Ken and Kathy Shields.
She holds a National Coaching Certification Program Level IV status and has a re-invigorated love of basketball since re-joining the team two years ago.
"Having worked with James I'm very familiar with his systems and goals for the program, so things won't change that much," Taggart adds. "I've always believed that you get out of it what you put into it, so it's about having the correct perspective and understanding that the victory is right on the other side. It's a matter of just pushing through the adversity and finding that 'a-ha' moment."
"When I started coaching in my late twenties and early thirties to where I am now, with the age gap between student-athletes and myself I'm excited for what they can teach me. I can't wait to get to work and be in the thick of things."
The Bobcats open the 2023-24 Canada West conference season on the road against the Manitoba Bisons on Nov. 3 before opening the home schedule the following weekend against the Thompson Rivers WolfPack.
Source: https://gobobcats.ca/news/2023/6/22/womens-basketball-taggart-tabbed-as-interim-head-coach.aspx