Mullan returns to volleyball
Briercrest is proud to introduce Natalie Mullan as the returning assistant coach to the men’s varsity volleyball team and head coach of the junior varsity team. Mullan was an assistant coach for the men’s team from 2009-2011, where she helped coach the team to an ACAC gold, ACAC bronze, and CCAA silver.
A current professor at Briercrest, Mullan has spent the last 12 years in Caronport where she attended the college as an athlete, was an assistant coach, and has now taught for the past seven years. Although she is a Saskatchewan native, Mullan spent most of her childhood years in British Colombia, attending Trinity Western University as a student-athlete in the Human Kinetics program before transferring to Briercrest, where she captained the team and was named Female Athlete of the Year. She then married men’s volleyball head coach Nigel Mullan, completed her MA Sports Science with a focus in Sports Medicine from the United States Sports Academy Kinesiology department, and has begun to raise four children.
Mullan is excited to be coaching alongside her husband again, stating, “I love working with Nigel, we’ve been working well together for the past 14 years. It’s fun to continue learning from him and soaking up his knowledge and passion for the sport.” Meeting Nigel in 2005 at a Briercrest volleyball camp, Mullan married him in 2007 when she came to play her last year in Saskatchewan and has lived here ever since. “Caronport has been a wonderful place to raise children,” shares Mullan, “I’m thankful for the community and township and interactions between the players and my children and the influence they’ve had on my kids.”
Although Mullan will have a full plate raising children, coaching, and teaching some courses, she’s not worried about the challenge ahead. “Faith allows me to have a sense of peace as a parent, athlete, and coach,” shares Mullan, “it gives me a place to surrender my burdens.” For Mullan, “faith is central. I try to do my best at everything I do, and I know who I represent when I do things.” Mullan desires the live her faith in all aspects of her life, whether its teaching, coaching, or parenting.
It is this attitude and belief that Mullan intends to bring to her teams for the 2019-20 season, sharing, “our purpose is things that we can control, and living those things out well will help with success. Our identity won’t be found in wins or losses.” Mullan seeks to have her teams known for solid faith, strong character, work ethic, and being studious of the game. She shares her vision for this season, commenting, “I’m looking forward to seeing both teams develop, grow, and reach their potential by partnering with athletes and with students in their walk of life.”
Both seasons are off to a good start, and Briercrest is excited to see the teams’ success and growth on and off the court under Mullan’s leadership, along with the knowledge and experience she brings from being both an athlete and a coach.
