A look at this year's new Falcon coaches

Fanshawe Athletics has 29 coaches on staff this year, 10 of which are new. Joining Fanshawe this year are:

Matthew White
Head Coach: Women's Basketball
This is White's first year coaching for the Falcons, although that doesn't mean he comes to the table inexperienced. He has spent three years as assistant coach for the men's basketball team at State University of New York at Oswego, and most recently he's been coaching here in London for the Ramblers Basketball Club.

White is a Certified Coach NCCP Level 2, Holds a MBA from The State University of New York, and is also a graduate of Lambton Colleges' Sports Facilities and Recreation Administration program.

You could say White is one of the luckiest coaches here on staff; as his wife Erin Howarth recently jumped on board this season as assistant coach. This means he has the pleasure of seeing the love of his life every day out on the court.

Matt Plachta
Head Coach: Badminton
For the past two years Plachta has seen it all on the court as assistant coach for the Falcons b a d m i n t o n t e a m . However this year he is stepping up to take on the position of Head Coach. As a Fanshawe Graduate of the Business Accounting Administration program, and Alumni of the badminton team Plachta knows the true meaning of Falcon pride. He holds his NCPP Coaching Certification and is excited to see what this year will bring.

Emily Costello
Assistant Coach: Women's soccer
Costello was named top female athlete of the year in her rookie year playing soccer right here at Fanshawe College, and continued to play an integral role on the team for a total of three years. She was captain and MVP for the outdoor and indoor soccer teams, captured national honours when she was named CCAA all Canadian in women's soccer, and she accomplished all of that while maintaining a 3.95 GPA.

Last fall Costello lead the Falcons to a fourth place finish in the OCAA Championships, and at the same time was named West Division league all-star. Her strong leadership skills as a player out on the field will go a long way in coaching this year's team.

Sonia Curvelo
Associate Coach: Women's Soccer
Curvelo is a professional soccer player and now she's joining the Falcons coaching staff with a whirlwind of experience. Not only does she excel on the soccer field, but her academic portfolio is quite impressive.

During her time at Mississippi Valley State University obtaining her Bachelor of Science in Administration, Curvelo won numerous awards in academic excellence, including the Outstanding Business Administration Scholar in 2007, Presidents Scholar from 2005-2007 while obtaining a 3.7/4.0 GPA.

When it comes to athletics Curvelo has played on the Portugal National Soccer team since 2007, and competed in the UEFA Women's Championship 2009 Finland qualifying matches. She was a professional soccer player in the Women's Spanish Super League, and was head coach for the Rochester Rhinos Soccer Academy in Rochester, NY.

Erin Howarth
Assistant Coach: Women's Basketball
Erin is half of a dynamic husband wife basketball coaching duo. She's teamed up with her head coach and husband Matthew White to bring our Falcons to victory. Howarth's a past player herself with the hardware to prove it. She played for Daemen for four years and played high school for North Middlesex where she won an OFSSA gold medal and three OFSSA bronze medals. She even coached the Ramblers for four years and won an OBA gold.

Sarah Ruddach
Assistant Coach: Badminton
Ruddach comes to us with a BA in Engineering Science from UWO and a ton of experience on the badminton court. She's spent seven years as a member of UWO's badminton club, and also played on the Western Mustangs badminton team that placed third in Ontario. In 2000 she was named most sportsmanlike female athlete of the year, coincidentally that was the same year she placed seventh in the OFSSA ladies doubles. Ruddach is married to Steve Ruddach, who plays on this year's men's badminton team; she must have meant it when she said she enjoys a challenge.

Kim Shawe
Assistant Coach: Golf
Shawe is a Londoner, first degree black belt, mother of two, Fanshawe alumni, an avid golfer and we can't forget she's married to head Coach Andy Shawe.

Shawe first started golfing at the ripe age of 10, and was the first female to join the all male golf team back in 1992 when she graduated from Fanshawes Rec and Leisure program. This extraordinary woman continues to impress us all with her accomplishments.

Rob Thorpe
Assistant Coach: Men's Volleyball
This is Rob's first year as assistant coach but fourth year working with the men's volleyball team. He's played three years as a middle for the team, and in that time was recognized for his skill on the court. Thorpe was nominated for Fansahwe College Athlete of the Year in 2006-07, he's an OCAA First Team All-Star and OCAA Championship Team All- Star and he was named Most Valuable Player in 2006-07 when he helped the Fanshawe Falcons to win bronze at OCAA Championships.

Ashley Vandervecht
Associate Coach: Cross Country Team
Vandervecht may be new to coaching scene here at Fanshawe but she is definitely familiar with the team. She's Fanshawe alumni and was a runner on the Faclons cross country team for two years. She was named MVP for the team and was considered “Miss October” when she was honoured by the OCAA as athlete of the week in 2007.

Dan Gaffney
Associate Coach: Men's Soccer
Gaffney is proud Fanshawe Alumni, in fact last year he graduated with a diploma in Business Administration and Marketing.

In his time here at the college he spent three years as a defenseman for the Falcon men's indoor and outdoor soccer teams. Last year Gaffney was honoured as a 2007- 2008 CCAA National Scholar Recipient.

Rob Hannivan
Associate Coach: Men's Volleyball
Hannivan has sported a number six on the court for his college, and high school volleyball career. He was an integral part of the Loyalist Lancers Men's volleyball team, and also played right side for his high school team for four consecutive years. Hannivan's current role as Fulltime Athletic Technician in athletics puts him in charge of the most fundamental aspects of our program. This year we welcome him as Associate Coach of the men's volleyball team. Last year Fanshawe hosted the Belairdirect 2008 OCAA Men's and Women's Provincial Volleyball Championships Hannivan impressed everyone by transforming our gyms into venues that were absolutely spectacular.

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