African Heritage Month Coach Feature

February marks African Heritage Month in Nova Scotia, a time to reflect on the resilience, achievements, and lasting contributions of our province’s Black community. This year’s theme, Legacy in Action: Celebrating Black Brilliance, honours the impact of Black Nova Scotians across generations, recognizing the stories, lessons, and leadership that continue to shape the future.

In that spirit, we take this opportunity to recognize, celebrate, and champion the contributions of BIPOC coaches within our university’s athletics community. Coaches do more than build winning teams; they serve as mentors and role models, shaping the character and confidence of young athletes. This occasion provides a moment to highlight their journeys, amplify their voices, and reflect on the importance of representation in leadership and athletics.

To deepen this conversation, we chatted with three of our coaches: Derrick Brooks, head coach of the women’s volleyball team; Sean François, assistant coach of the men’s basketball team; and Tyler Simmons, assistant coach of the women’s volleyball team. Through this Q&A, they share their personal journeys into coaching, their philosophies on mentorship and leadership, and their perspectives on why representation in athletics matters.

Q: Can you tell us about your journey into coaching and what inspired you to pursue this career?

Coach Brooks: This is my 16th year as head coach of the MSVU women’s volleyball team. I started coaching when I was 19 because I wanted to give back to the sport that had done so much for me.

Coach François: I have a love for both basketball and soccer, and I got involved with coaching to pass that passion along to young athletes. I started coaching at the grassroots and development levels in both sports—first with soccer, then with basketball. This is my fourth season as an assistant coach with the MSVU men’s basketball program.

Coach Simmons: My journey at the Mount began in 2009 when I played on the men’s soccer team. I spent five years as a player, winning a championship in the 2013–2014 season. I also started as an assistant coach with the women’s volleyball team in 2009 alongside Derrick Brooks. I’ve been there ever since.

Beyond MSVU, I’ve built a coaching career in soccer, working with club teams and the private Farias Soccer Academy. I’ve also coached a wide range of volleyball programs, from six-year-olds to university athletes. Currently, I’m the head coach of the Volleyball Nova Scotia Men’s Indoor Canada Games team for this upcoming summer.

Q: How do you handle the intersection of pressure to win and your responsibility to mentor and guide your athletes as young people, not just athletes?

Coach Brooks: Sometimes that is the most difficult part of coaching. I always try to remind my athletes that tomorrow is another day.

Coach François: At the end of the day, as coaches and athletes, we have to ask ourselves: did we put in all the necessary preparation for the moment? Did we compete to the best of our ability? If the answer is yes, then we can live with the result and continue working to improve with each opportunity. That applies not just in sports, but in life.

Coach Simmons: In my opinion, there’s no pressure to win, but pressure to learn and be willing to adapt. These two skills transfer onto young people in their real world [outside of athletics]. Winning is simply the outcome of the learning process. I pride myself on being a coach who strives to ensure athletes are developing their skills to become great individuals and athletes.

Q: Is there a coach that you feel particularly inspired by?

Coach Brooks: Don Laviolette. He was the first coach I ever had, and he taught me so much more than just how to play volleyball. He was, and still is, an inspiration.

Coach François: I’m inspired by many coaches, but the late John Thompson, legendary head coach of Georgetown University’s men’s basketball team, is someone whose principles have had a positive impact on me.

He was a strong advocate for student-athletes, social justice, and racial equity. He played and coached during an era when some people did not want to see people of colour succeed, or even put roadblocks in place to hinder their success. He was able to achieve excellence in spite of it all, and always stood up for others.

Coach Simmons: I am inspired by Gregg Popovich, head coach of the San Antonio Spurs, because of his coaching philosophy. He believes in treating players as people first, holding everyone accountable, and maintaining transparent communication. These are three things that I hold space for in my own coaching.

Q: In your time with the Mystics program, what has been your proudest moment or achievement?

Coach Brooks: Hearing from parents of former players about how much their daughters cared for and respected me.

Coach François: I’m most proud of being part of the 2022 and 2024 ACAA Men’s Basketball Championship teams. Both banners were achieved on different team journeys, making each one uniquely special!

Coach Simmons: My proudest achievement was winning the soccer championship in the 2013–2014 season. I was one of the team captains, and I had the honour of playing alongside a great group of guys.

Q: Are there any key values you emphasize when coaching your athletes?

Coach Brooks: My core values are chemistry and culture. These have always been my two main objectives, and they always will be. They build character.

Coach François: “Stay ready so you don’t have to get ready,” is a quote I believe is true not only in sport, but in life as well. Continue putting in the work, whether it's the physical aspects or the mental and learning aspects. Always continue to have a growth mindset and expand your horizons, that preparation and continued development creates readiness for future opportunities.

Q: Do you have a coaching philosophy?

Coach Simmons: My philosophy is built around developing problem-solving skills and learning. I create opportunities where my players can apply what they learn in practice to solve real-time situations on the court or field. I want my athletes to be able to problem-solve in the real world and have the ability to learn from their mistakes. I believe that these two core values lead to long term success.

Q: What do you find to be the most rewarding aspects of coaching young athletes? How do you stay motivated in your role as a mentor/leader?

Coach Brooks: The most rewarding aspect is the relationship you build with your athletes – seeing them outside of volleyball and having them acknowledge and be excited to see you.

Coach François: For younger athletes, the most rewarding aspect is seeing them continue to play the sport year after year. For older athletes, it’s watching them develop into leaders and continue growing as student-athletes. You hope that the way you carry yourself as a coach and as a person has a positive impact on each of their personal journeys.

Coach Simmons: The most rewarding part is seeing athletes build self-confidence and use the skills they’ve learned through sports in the real world. I stay motivated by being able to feel as if I am giving back to my athletes, as my former coaches gave back to me.

Q: Has your identity as a BIPOC coach shaped your approach to coaching and mentoring athletes?

Coach Brooks: Yes – as a Black coach in a predominantly white sport, it always motivates me to do well.

Coach François: As a Black coach, especially for younger athletes, I may be the first or one of the first coaches they’ve had who looks like them. Being in an environment like that can help to dispel and break down stereotypes. For older athletes, my experiences as a coach and, in life, as a Black man help guide the advice I give. Common interests and goals create connections, and consistency builds belief and trust.

Coach Simmons: Being a BIPOC coach hasn’t directly shaped my approach to coaching. However, I ensure that my BIPOC athletes are seen for who they authentically are, without feeling the need to hide part of themselves.

Q: Do you have any thoughts on using your position to encourage students to pursue sports and coaching?

Coach François: Personal experience is the best testament. I find that student-athletes are keen to continue giving back to the sport they participated in when they feel connected and empowered by the game and have directly enjoyed the positive aspects that come from team sports.

Q: We recognize the importance of centering BIPOC voices in every space, including in sports. Can you offer a perspective as to why this lens is so important?

Coach Brooks: The world is filled with minorities who face adversity. It’s nice to focus on some that have succeeded, even if they are not perfect.

Coach François: Diversity is the key to success. Different lived experiences and ideas make any collective stronger when they have common goals. Having that perspective present in all aspects of society helps to ensure we’re continually moving forward and not backward.

Q: In the current landscape of university/college athletics, what are your hopes for the future regarding diversity and inclusion?

Coach François: My hope is that both athletes and coaches of colour continue to be represented at all levels of sport, especially in areas where representation has historically been lacking. I also hope that BIPOC student-athletes in college and university find ways to stay involved in the sport beyond their playing days – whether in coaching, athletic department roles, scouting, health sciences (such as doctors and physiotherapists), sport science, or professional team positions, just to name some examples that come to mind.

Q: Have you worked with other coaches/teams to promote diversity within coaching ranks and athletics teams?

Coach François: In the summer of 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic and the BLM (Black Lives Matter) movement, I delivered a Zoom presentation and discussion to athletes and coaches from Basketball Nova Scotia provincial teams, United DFC Soccer Club teams, and some Nova Scotia Community College faculty. The presentation was titled "A Brief History in Understanding the Need for Anti-Racism Protests". Additionally, I was a guest panelist for Basketball Nova Scotia’s virtual "Challenging Conversations" event, part of their Courtside Seats series. I am also a ‘Support 4 Sport’ VIP Coach through the Canadian Sport Centre Atlantic, where we promote equity, diversity, and inclusion at all levels of sport.

Coach Simmons: I have the pleasure of working closely with many other BIPOC coaches, primarily within the Black and Indigenous Mentorship Program. This program provides BIPOC coaches with opportunities to enhance their coaching through mentorship with experienced coaches. I first joined the program as a mentee and am now a mentor to another BIPOC coach. The program has given coaches, who may not feel like they’ve had a voice, a space to talk and collaborate with like-minded individuals. I’ve also been involved with the Black Lives Matter Golf Initiative, which aims to introduce Black youth to golf.

Q: Do you honour African Heritage Month with your team, and what does it mean to you personally?

Coach François: To me, African Heritage Month shines a spotlight on Black accomplishments and progress, but it also highlights the work that still needs to be done in society. As a team, we have honored teammates of African descent by sharing their stories through social media profiles. Additionally, teammates have attended guest speaker events and cultural activities both at MSVU and within the community during the month. African-Canadian history is Canadian history, and Black history is the world’s history. Never let your learning be confined to just one month of the year.

Coach Simmons: I honour my culture and heritage every day when I wake up, and this mindset translates into my coaching every time I am with my team. However, African Heritage Month is a time for non-Black people to educate themselves more deeply about the contributions Black people have made to our society.

Q: Are there any additional thoughts you’d like to share regarding this topic? Or your coaching experience as a whole?

Coach Brooks: I hope that Black coaches and Black people in general will get recognized for their positive contributions and achievements, and not be defined by negative stereotypes.

Coach François: I enjoy giving back to basketball and soccer, while continuing to learn with each opportunity on the journey. Each sport has given me so much, especially friendships. Seeing young people succeed, grow and develop, both in sport and in life, will always bring me joy!

Coach Simmons: As a BIPOC coach, I pride myself on being my authentic self, no matter where I am. I am proud to say I am from North Preston, and I will continue to educate people on how my community has impacted Nova Scotia and Canada as a whole.