Katie Ulakovic named lead assistant coach for the Thunderwolves Women’s Basketball team

June 6, 2023 – Thunder Bay, ON – Lakehead University Thunderwolves

For Immediate Release

The Lakehead University Thunderwolves Women’s Basketball team is bolstering its coaching staff with the addition of Katie Ulakovic as the lead assistant coach.

 

Ulakovic has served as an assistant coach at Lakehead for the Men’s Basketball team over the past two seasons. Her history with the Thunderwolves goes far beyond that; she spent five seasons as a player on the Women’s team from 2010-2015. 

 

She has been an active coach in Thunder Bay for several years. From 2015 to 2020 she was the head coach of the Hammarskjold junior boys’ basketball program. Ulakovic also served as an assistant coach on the senior girls team at Hammarskjold, helping lead the team to three SSSAA and NWOSSA championships, with three OFSAA appearances. 

 

Rounding out her coaching experience, Ulakovic has served as a head coach for Blaze Basketball since 2018. She has used these roles to prove herself as an excellent communicator with a bright basketball mind.

 

Although she will miss the role she held on the Men’s team, Ulakovic is looking forward to her new role on the Women’s team. She sees it as an opportunity to give back to the program that has been such a major part of her life.

 

“Coaching with the Lakehead Men’s Basketball team and learning from Ryan Thomson over the past two seasons has been an absolutely amazing experience,” Ulakovic said. 

 

“Being back in the Thunderdome in a coaching role has been rewarding in so many ways. I will miss the day-to-day interactions and camaraderie with the Men’s team.

 

“I am thankful for this opportunity to remain within the Thunderwolves family and give back to the Women’s program as lead assistant coach.”

 

As a player, Ulakovic was tenacious on the defensive end – known for constantly pestering the opposition’s top offensive threats. She knows what it takes to compete at this level of basketball from a physical standpoint.

 

The Wolves recently announced Hugo Boisvert as the head coach of the program heading into the 2023-24 season. The pair are eager to get started. 

 

“I look forward to working with and learning from Hugo and am excited for this next chapter with the Lakehead Women’s basketball team,” Ulakovic said.

 

Boisvert is looking forward to working with Ulakovic.

 

“I couldn’t be more excited to bring Katie on board. She represents so much of what this program will stand for moving forward and I know she will be a great role model for our student-athletes both on and off the floor,” he said.

 

“Katie has been giving back to the Thunder Bay basketball community for many years and she cares deeply about the Thunderwolves program. Our coaching staff will benefit greatly from her experience coaching at various levels of play as well as her five years of experience playing at Lakehead.”

 

Lakehead Athletics Director Tom Warden said he is glad to have Ulakovic back with the Thunderwolves Women’s Basketball team.  

 

“We are  excited to announce Katie as the assistant coach with our women’s basketball program.  Katie has done a wonderful job coaching with Ryan and our men’s team and we are pleased that she has decided to now assist with Hugo,” Warden said.

 

“Katie was an excellent student-athlete and is now a community leader, coach and mentor to many.  We are confident that she will do a fantastic job and we believe she is a great addition to our women’s basketball program.”

 

The Thunderwolves Women’s Basketball team will debut their new coaching staff at their exhibition games versus Algoma on September 29th and 30th, 2023.