Pam Danis
Coach
Please tell us a little bit about yourself.
Well, growing up I played ALL sports – I was your typical TOMBOY and loved being on the ice, baseball diamond and in the gym. I was considered your “natural” athlete who played with the BOYS because there were no teams/programs for girls. My first experience playing basketball which was the sport I ultimately excelled at did not occur until I was in grade 7 which in today’s standard is very late to be picking up a sport BUT because I was athletic and had played other sports, I was able to pick up the game quickly. In my grade 9 year I played high-level ringette, basketball, volleyball, badminton, soccer which again is unheard of now but for many females of my generation this was common. Eventually I narrowed my sports to basketball and volleyball and was recruited heavily in both — in my first year of university I still couldn’t decide on which sport I wanted to play so at the University of North Dakota recruited for me for both and I played on the volleyball team and was a red shirt on the basketball team – Ironically I ended heading back to Canada to play basketball and played 4 years at the University of Winnipeg where I won three national championships and tied a North American record for most wins (88 Games).
How has sport helped you develop skills for your work today?
Growing up and playing on a number of sports teams I learned invaluable lessons and would not be the wife, mother, coach, mentor, friend and professional that I am today without those experiences …. I have experienced tremendous “LOSSES” and tremendous “WINS” from playing sports and being part of teams and it is through those lived experiences that I have been able to navigate my own path ……. I AM WHO I AM BECAUSE OF SPORTS – I also believe that when one door closes, three will open and when there were times when I struggled as a player or as a coach and thought the world was UNFAIR ….… I eventually found that circumstances happen for a reason and although it is not pleasant at the time things do turn around and they typically make your stronger from them.