Michelle DeCourcey, head coach of the Tommies' Women's Soccer team, has stepped down from her head coach position after eight years with the team.

"My time coaching at STU has been extremely rewarding. It has challenged me and taught me a whole lot about leadership and myself. I'm so grateful for having been given the opportunity to take on the team 8 years ago," DeCourcey said. "I have loved my time with STU, but I'm looking forward to having more time to spend with my growing family."

Decourcey began her role as head coach in 2015 and led STU to an ACAA championship victory in 2017. DeCourcey was named the ACAA Coach of the Year in 2018-19 with a 10-0-2 record. In her seven regular seasons, her career record was 38-35-12 in ACAA play, with a CCAA National Championship appearance in 2017.

Along with DeCourcey, assistant coaches Vanessa Pettersson and Amy Whytewood-Hughes, have also stepped down. Whytewood-Hughes, a former captain of the Tommies, joined the coaching staff with DeCourcey eight years ago. Pettersson, also a former Tommie, joined the staff after graduating from STU in 2017.

"The 2017 squad was a close-knit family. They just meshed and fought for each other like no other team I have coached," DeCourcey said of her championship team.

STU Athletics Director Michael Eagles thanked DeCourcey and her staff for their dedication and time put into the Tommies' program.

"I want to thank Michelle for her commitment and dedication to the Women's Soccer program for the past eight seasons," Eagles said. "Her leadership has been outstanding and she is highly respected by her players. Her and her staff's tremendous contribution built a winning mindset and strong academic culture into the program. The ACAA banner and trip to Nationals in 2017 will always be remembered as a major component of Michelle's legacy and I am so thankful to have been part of that journey. We will miss her and wish her and her family all the best in the future."

DeCourcey had spent the 2012 season as an assistant coach for the Tommies, also spending time coaching the the FDSA U16 Girls, Fredericton High School Black Kats Varsity Girls, and the FDSA U12 Wanderers. Decourcey played four years of National Collegiate Athletic Association Division 1 soccer for Fairleigh Dickinson University in New Jersey.