A look at this year's new Falcon coaches
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.