NEWS: Danika Smith appointed Associate Director, Varsity Sports at University of Ottawa

University of Ottawa Gee-Gees Recreation and Varsity Sports (RVS) is proud to officially announce the appointment of Danika Smith to the role of Associate Director, Varsity Sports.

Smith has dedicated herself over the past 15 years to the varsity sports high-performance sport sector with the Gee-Gees and has been a key force in the growth and development of the high-performance sport model operating today at the University. Smith has served in the Associate Director role in an interim capacity since last spring.

"We have incredible expertise in RVS and I am excited to work to empower our coaches and staff to deliver the best possible environment for our student-athletes to flourish," said Smith.

"Thank you to the many people who I've seen give their heart and soul to the Gee-Gees in the time that I've been here, I am extremely excited and motivated to continue their work into this new chapter."

In her role, Smith oversees the high-performance sector, including 19 coaches and nine administrators who work to support the University's 34 varsity sport programs. This portfolio oversees team logistics, eligibility, athletic and financial aid, integrated support services (including for academics, medical and athletic therapy, strength and conditioning, mental health support, performance nutrition, mental performance), among other essential areas to varsity operations. Danika will oversee the annual sport program reviews with each of our Varsity Teams and will be lead on all sport related activities with U SPORTS, OUA, and RSEQ.

"There is no more qualified or deserving person to fill the role of Associate Director, Varsity Sports at uOttawa," said Sue Hylland, Senior Director of Recreation and Varsity Sports.

"Danika has worked from ground up within sport at the university level. She has a very extensive and broad understanding of high-performance sport, the importance of its positioning in an educational setting, its complexities and the interdependencies across different sectors that are needed to ensure success."

"Danika has been a tremendous ambassador for uOttawa throughout her years here. She is highly respected by her peers and with all those she works with at our institution and across our conferences. The entire Recreation and Varsity Sports staff are ecstatic to have her fill this role," said Hylland.

Prior to taking on the Associate Director role, Smith served as the Senior Advisor, Varsity Operations and Student-Athlete Services, High Performance and Compliance Advisor, and Student-Athlete Services and Compliance Officer dating back to 2009.

Outside of her experience with the Gee-Gees, Smith has worked as a Safe Sport Project Lead with ITP Sport, as well as a Sport Psychology Consultant.

Internationally, Smith has attended the 2019 FISU World Cup and 2022 FISU America Games as Head of Delegation with the Gee-Gees soccer team. Smith also represented Canada as mission staff at the 2013 FISU Games in Kazan, Russia.

A native of Munster Hamlet in southwestern Ottawa, Smith played for the Gee-Gees women's hockey program between 2003-09, serving as team captain from 2006-09.

A two-time conference All-Star at defence, Smith won both the RSEQ Community Service, Academics, and Sport Award and the U SPORTS Marion Hilliard Award for athletics, academics, and community service in 2009.

Transitioning from ice hockey to ball hockey, Smith is a two-time world gold medallist (2009 & 2013) and silver medallist (2011) as a player for Canada. On the coaching side, Smith was an assistant coach for Team Lebanon in 2022 at the World Championship and was an assistant coach for Canada's Master's team in 2016.

Smith graduated from uOttawa first with an Honours Bachelor of Science in Human Kinetics in 2007, and later a Master of Arts in Human Kinetics in 2009. Smith also earned a Graduate Certificate in High Performance Coaching and Technical Leadership from UBC in 2018.