| Chantal Vallée | |
| Current Title: | Head Coach |
| Current Team: | Windsor Lancers women's basketball program |
| Current Conference: | OUA, U Sports |
| Current Record: | 400-143 (0.74) |
| Birth Place: | Kamloops, British Columbia |
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Chantal Vallée is a professional basketball coach who has established one of the top women's basketball program at the University of Windsor in Canada. Vallée holds the U Sports Canadian record for the most consecutive National Championships won in women's basketball with five consecutive national titles in 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, and 2015.[1] Vallée also led her team to ten consecutive Ontario University Athletics (OUA) conference finals, earning nine consecutive OUA medals.
In 2018, the University of Windsor granted Chantal Vallée a sabbatical, during which she assumed the dual roles of general manager and head coach for the Hamilton Honey Badgers a men's professional basketball team competing in the Canadian Elite Basketball League.[2] This groundbreaking appointment made Vallée the first woman to hold both positions simultaneously for a men's professional basketball team.[3] [4] [5] As the general manager, her responsibility was to construct the franchise from its foundation. As the GM Vallée reached success with the franchise by signing players with NBA affiliation and experience, such as Xavier Rathan Mayes, who had played for the Memphis Grizzlies, Ricky Tarrant Jr., Demetrius Denzel Dyson, and Keanau Post who played in the NBA G-League. As head coach, she led the team to the league's national championship final in her first season, achieving a remarkable upset over the top-ranked Niagara River Lions in the playoffs semifinal. Vallée was offered a contract extension from Honey Badgers president John Lashway, but discussion with the University of Windsor made this possibility uncertain with regards to a format that would allow her to remain with the Honey Badgers through an extended sabbatical from Windsor, or by fulfilling both coaching duties.[6]
Following her successful one-year secondment by the University of Windsor, she returned to her position at Windsor.[7]
Vallée embarked on her coaching career by leading a men's AAA level high school program in Quebec that finished fourth-place finish in the province.[8] Subsequently, she assumed the role of head coach for the women's basketball program at Vanier College.
Vallée has dedicated multiple seasons to serving as an assistant coach for the Canadian Development and Junior National women's teams. She has also contributed her expertise as an assistant coach at McGill University for two seasons and the University of British Columbia for one season.
Chantal Vallée presently serves as the head coach of the Windsor Lancers women's basketball program. On March 20, 2011, Vallée led the Windsor Lancers women's basketball team to their first-ever Canadian University Championship, marking a historic milestone. Following that triumph, the team went on to secure five consecutive national titles, tying the record for the most consecutive victories in women's basketball also reached by Laurentian University from 1975–1979.[9]
During the 2012–13 season, Vallée's team achieved an exceptional feat by attaining a flawless 21-0 record, as the Windsor Lancers became the first team in the history of OUA women's basketball to remain undefeated since the league implemented its expanded schedule.[10]
Vallée made history by serving as both the general manager and head coach for the Hamilton Honey Badgers,[11] a team that emerged within the recently established Canadian Elite Basketball League. This groundbreaking accomplishment marked the first instance of a woman simultaneously holding both positions for a men's professional basketball team.[12]
Prior to her tenure at Windsor, Vallée served as the head coach of the Vanier College Women's Basketball program for three seasons.
Before taking on the role of head coach at Vanier College, Vallée gained valuable experience as an assistant coach for two seasons with McGill University's women's basketball program. Furthermore, she contributed her expertise as an assistant coach at the University of British Columbia for one season.
During the off-seasons of university basketball, Vallée contributed as an assistant coach to the Canadian National Team program both with the Junior program and the Senior B team. Her involvement encompassed international competition events such as:
Vallée took on the role of head coach for the Quebec Provincial team, guiding them to a bronze medal finish at the 2002 Nation
al Championships hosted in New Brunswick.
Vallée has contributed as a colour commentator for basketball on prominent Canadian broadcasting channels, including CBC,[13] CTV, Sportsnet, TSN, and RDS. Her extensive coverage encompasses significant sporting events such as the 2012, 2016 and 2020 Summer Olympics.[14] and the 2019 NBA play-offs.
Vallée has authored two scientific published articles based on her academic research on the topic of transformational leadership: "Building a Successful University Program" in the Journal of Applied Sport Psychology in 2005,[15] and "Four Keys to Building a Championship Culture" in the International Sport Coaching Journal in 2016.[16]
In 2023, Vallée made a notable appearance as a keynote speaker at the Rotary International World Convention in Melbourne, Australia, in front of 14,000 attendees.[17]
In 2018 Vallée delivered a TEDx talk, From Underdog to Topdog.[18]
As a contributing author, Vallée collaborated to Women for the Win, an account of accomplished Canadian basketball players and coaches that reached three #1 best-seller positions in Canada.[19]
In 2016, Vallée was named CAAWS most influential women in Canada as a coach. In April 2012, she was honoured with the Athena Award, acknowledging her remarkable accomplishments as a business professional, her impactful community involvement, and her dedication to mentoring future women leaders. Additionally, in 2013, Vallée was presented with the Diamond Jubilee medal by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, in recognition of her outstanding work beyond the realm of basketball.
Since joining the Lancers, Vallée has received eighteen Coach of the Year awards :