(FREDERICTON, NB) The UNB REDS are proud to announce that Fredericton-born Lauren Hale-Miller (BRSS’16, BEd’18) has been hired as the new head coach of their women’s volleyball team.
Hale-Miller joins the REDS after an eight-season run as a head coach in the Canadian Collegiate Athletics Association ranks.
“I’m thrilled to be coming home to the REDS,” said Hale-Miller. “As a proud Frederictonian and UNB alum, I’m honoured to be able to give back to the community that supported me throughout my volleyball career.”
“This job has been a career goal of mine for quite some time, so being selected for the position is very exciting.”
Hale-Miller takes over the REDS following five seasons as head coach at Northwestern Polytechnic, in Grande Prairie, Alberta. The Wolves play in the Alberta Colleges Athletic Association.
Previously, Hale-Miller was head coach of the UNBSJ Seawolves, where, in 2019, she was named Atlantic Collegiate Athletic Association Coach of the Year.
“We’ve hired someone with a proven track record of building teams, who has a strong understanding of the game, our community, our university, and what we’re trying to do here,” said REDS’ Athletic Director Jeff Speedy. “Lauren rose to the top in a strong field of candidates, and the fact she’s a UNB alum and was born and raised here is a bonus.”
Hale-Miller, who recently earned Chartered Professional Coach designation from the Coaching Association of Canada, currently serves as a Performance Coach and Coach Evaluator with Volleyball Canada.
In 2021, she served as head coach of Alberta’s U17 girls’ team.
Between 2012 and 2019, she worked as a High-Performance Coach with Volleyball New Brunswick and was part of the coaching staff for Team NB at the 2017 Canada Summer Games, where the team captured the first indoor women’s volleyball medal in New Brunswick history, defeating Ontario in the bronze medal game.
From 2013 to 2018, Hale-Miller served as head coach of the junior varsity boys volleyball team and assistant coach of the girls’ varsity team at Fredericton’s Leo Hayes High School. During her time with the Lions, both programs won back-to-back New Brunswick high school championships.
At the club level, Hale-Miller has worked with numerous programs, serving in various roles from head coach to technical director to program coordinator and president.
“My style of coaching would be a people first approach,” she said. “It’s important to me to build trusting and caring relationships with my athletes and get to know them beyond sport. On the volleyball side of things, I believe it’s important to set high expectations and continuously strive to increase our level of competition.”
Hale-Miller holds Bachelors of Recreation and Sport Studies and Education from UNB and is completing a Master of Human Kinetics and Recreation at Memorial University.
“We’re excited that Lauren is coming home to take over the REDS,” said Speedy. “She’s taking over a young team with a bright future and we’re confident she’ll help them find success in Atlantic University Sport.”
Hale-Miller, who begins her tenure as REDS’ coach on May 21st, succeeds John Richard, who served as interim head coach for the 2023-2024 season.
She says her immediate priorities will be to connect with returning and incoming student-athletes and assemble a coaching staff that supports and aligns with the vision of REDS women’s volleyball.
“I hope the Fredericton volleyball community will be excited to hear the news of my return,” she said. “They know how hard I’ve worked for this, and I think they’ll be very supportive.”
Hale-Miller becomes the 20th head coach in UNB women’s volleyball history.
STORY BY: Andy Campbell/UNB Athletics
PHOTO: UNBSJ Athletics