TORONTO, Ont. (January 25, 2020) - Kim Gaucher and Lizanne Murphy have been selected as recipients of the 2020 Coaching Education Grant from the Coaching Association of Canada (CAC) and Game Plan. They are two of 24 Team Canada athletes who will receive funding as they look to take the next steps in their coaching career through the Coaching Education Program.

The grant provides recipients with up to $1000 to help cover the costs of training to become a coach in either the Competition-Development stream or work towards their Advanced Coaching Diploma.

Gaucher has been a member of the Canadian National Team for two decades, playing over 200+ career games since joining the program in 2001. The Mission, British Columbia native has competed on the world stage at London 2012, won gold at the 2015 Pan American Games in Toronto and captained the Rio 2016 women’s team. Most recently, Gaucher represented Canada at the FIBA Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Ostend, Belgium last February.

The 36-year-old was selected 13th overall by the Sacramento Monarchs at the 2006 WNBA Draft, where she played three seasons and became the first Canadian to appear in a WNBA Finals. She later took her career overseas, where she has played in Belgium, Spain, Hungary and France.

“I want to continue to grow the game in Canada,” Gaucher said. “I believe we need more female coaches and role models. I feel like I have amassed a lot of knowledge in my playing career and look forward to developing my coaching skills so I can pass it along to the future generations.”

Murphy registered over 145 career games with Canada Basketball before retiring in 2017. Like Gaucher, she competed at the London 2012 and Rio 2016 Olympic Games and won gold with Canada at the 2015 Pan Am Games. During her time on the national team, she also won gold at the 2015 FIBA Americas Women's Championship, silver at the 2013 FIBA Americas Women's Championship and bronze at the 2011 FIBA Americas Women's Championship. Professionally, the Beaconsfield, QC native has played in Finland, Lithuania, Slovakia, Poland and France.

"Thank you to Game Plan, Canada Basketball, Basketball Quebec and the Coaching Association of Canada for their support in my transition from athlete to coach," said Murphy. "I am really excited at the opportunity to learn different facets of the game, as well as give back to younger athletes coming up.

'I’m thrilled to be back in Canada, working in sport and giving back to the basketball community where I grew up and supported me my entire career," Murphy said.

The Coach Education Program was developed by the CAC and Game Plan to help transitioning athletes begin their coaching careers while fostering growth and excellence in the Canadian sports system. This is the fifth iteration of the program and its largest selection pool to date.

About Game Plan

Game Plan is a collaboration between the Canadian Olympic Committee (COC), the Canadian Paralympic Committee (CPC), Sport Canada and the Canadian Olympic and Paralympic Sport Institute Network (COPSIN).

Full List of Recipients:

• Ariane Fortin, Boxing

• Alissa Coulter, Volleyball

• Alphonse Ouimette, Short Track Speed Skating

• Angela Whyte, Athletics

• Antoine Valois-Fortier, Judo

• Diana Weicker, Wrestling

• Dustin Cook, Alpine Skiing

• Florence Maheu, Canoe/Kayak - Slalom

• Harley-David O'Reilly, Boxing

• Jessica Zelinka, Athletics

• Julie-Anne Staehli, Athletics

• Karli Johanson, Field Hockey

• Kim Gaucher, Basketball

• Kirsti Lay, Cycling - Track

• Lex Albrecht, Cycling  - Road

• Lisa Weagle, Curling

• Lizanne Murphy, Basketball

• Lubov Ilyushechkina, Figure Skating

• Marisa Field, Volleyball

• Mark Oldershaw, Canoe/Kayak - Sprint

• Megan Nagy, Beach Volleyball

• Myriam Da Silva Rondeau, Boxing

• Nicholas Patrick Rivest, Karate

• Patricia Wright, Karate