Episode 219: Carly Clarke, Utilizing Strengths and Winning With Our Personnel

Guest: Carly Clarke, Ryerson Head Coach

Ryerson head coach Carly Clarke joins the Basketball Podcast to share insights on utilizing strengths and winning with your personnel.

This past season Carly Clarke took home her first U SPORTS Coach of the Year, doing so on the heels of a dominant showing in the competition on their way to a conference regular season title, a conference tournament title and a national championship to cap an undefeated season. The accolade and success are just the latest in what has been a triumphant stretch for Clarke, as she also served as the Canadian national senior women’s team assistant coach at the Tokyo Games this past summer. Clarke remains with the national program as the team works towards the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

Clarke has been head coach at Ryerson since June 2012, and part of Canadian national team programming for the last 10 years. She has won 2 OUA conference Championships and had 5 final 8 national championship appearances in 9 years. Internationally she has been head coach for 2 world championship medals and been a part of a number of staff that have won medals.

The 2021-22 season was historic for Carly Clarke, leading the Rams to an undefeated season, culminating in an OUA and U SPORTS national title. The team went 14-0 through conference play, then concluded the OUA season with a 22-point fourth quarter comeback to claim the Critelli Cup for the program's second provincial title. The team was ranked No. 1 heading into the Final 8 national championship, and the Rams defeated UPEI, Brock, and Winnipeg en route to the team's first national championship and only the second for any team at the university. Clarke was recognized with her first conference and national awards, winning the OUA Coach of the Year and U SPORTS Coach of the Year awards. At the end of the season, she was also named the OUA Coach of the Year across all sports.

As head coach the Canadian U19 Junior Women's National Team, Clarke led the squad to its first ever medal at the World Cup, claiming the bronze medal with a victory over Japan in July of 2017.

Prior to joining the Rams, Clarke spent three seasons in the head coaching position at UPEI. The Halifax, N.S. native and Level III NCCP certified coach has garnered both national and international accolades working with Canada Basketball as well as various provincial sport organizations.

Breakdown

1:00 - COVID Years

5:00 - Team Experience

8:00 - Psychological Safety

10:00 - Celebrating Errors

13:00 - Strong Hand, Weak Hand

17:00 - Building Defense

18:49 - 19:47 - JUST PLAY AD

20:00 - Off The Ball Cutting

22:30 - Defining Strengths

24:00 - Personnel

28:00 - Integration of a Sports Psychologist