Basketball Axewomen add McDonald to 2023-24 season coaching staff

WOLFVILLE, N.S. - Acadia Axewomen basketball head coach Len Harvey is pleased to announce that former basketball Axewoman Haley McDonald will be joining his coaching staff this coming fall.

McDonald, who completed her five-year university basketball career at Acadia, was named the AUS Most Valuable Player this past season.

"I am very excited to join the Axewomen basketball coaching staff for the coming season. Acadia and the women's basketball program have been my second family for many years, and I look forward to working with and learning from Len and his staff," said McDonald.

"Based on the momentum and success the program has had over the years, I'm confident that I will be challenged and pushed to grow as a coach and as a leader. I'm proud of my persistence and dedication to merging my athletic and professional careers together. This opportunity makes me excited to start my day. A special thank you to Len and Acadia Athletics for this opportunity," noted McDonald.

The Axewomen finished this season as the fifth-ranked team in U SPORTS after delivering a loss to the Calgary Dinos in the consolation final at the women's national basketball championship hosted this season by the Cape Breton Capers.

McDonald, who completed her last year of eligibility this season, was given a last-game send-off in front of an unprecedented women's basketball game sell-out crowd.

This past season McDonald shattered six Acadia records including most points in a career, most field goals in a career, most free throws in a career, most three-point field goals in a career, most assists in a career, highest three-point field goals per game and highest free throw percentage.

McDonald's AUS accomplishments included the most points scored in a game – 51 points scored in a semifinal game in 2019 against UPEI, second in three-point field goals made, and fifth in career scoring.

Head coach Len Harvey is thrilled to have McDonald join the staff this coming season.

'I'm thrilled that Haley will join us on staff this season. It's certainly not an emeritus position for her, as I see a lot of potential with what she'll be able to offer as she transitions out of her sneakers and onto the bench. She has had varied experiences within basketball at a young age, and we'll be leaning on her to help us all continue to grow as coaches. Beyond that, she was a very successful coach in her year away from basketball," noted Harvey.

During the 2021-22 season, McDonald was the head coach of the Horton High School girls' basketball team where they captured a silver media at the D1 provincial championships.  She was also an assistant coach with the U15 Nova Scotia provincial team that won silver at the U15 Nationals in Sherbrooke, Que.

"I truly believe that Haley, and others like her, are the future of coaching in USPORTS, and I'm excited to watch her grow in her new role as a coach with the Axewomen. She loves basketball so much; however, now her lens shifts toward loving to coach the sport. There is a big difference and a learning curve of course, but I know she's ready, willing, and able to do so. I think she's going to be a star in this role just like she was on the court.," added Harvey.

McDonald joins the current assistant coaching staff of former Axewoman Lindsay (Harris) Heelis, Beth Detienne, Adam Detienne and Thane Smith.