This season marks the ninth year of the OMHA Coach of the Month presented by The Coaches Site. We asked for nominations of deserving coaches and after much deliberation, Nick Foley of the Belleville U10 AA team was selected as the Coach of the Month for January.
Know someone who should be Coach of the Month? Click here to nominate them.
Here's his story as told by his nomination:
Nick Foley is an outstanding candidate for Coach of the Month for the U10 AA Belleville Bulls. He consistently demonstrates exceptional leadership, dedication, and a genuine commitment to player development—both on and off the ice.
Nick creates a positive, structured, and motivating environment where players are encouraged to work hard, support one another, and build confidence. He focuses not only on skill development and game strategy, but also on sportsmanship, teamwork, and respect—values that are essential at this level of hockey.
His ability to connect with each player, recognize their individual strengths, and help them grow has had a clear impact on the team’s performance and morale. Parents and players alike appreciate his clear communication, enthusiasm, and the positive culture he has built within the team.
Nick Foley embodies what coaching should be about, and he is truly deserving of being recognized as Coach of the Month.
What is your background in hockey and coaching this team?
- 4 years in the OHL with Belleville Bulls, Kingston Frontenacs, and Mississauga Icedogs
- Colonial Cup Champion - 1999
- 4 years at St. Mary's University
- AUS Champion - 2002
- Coaching Experience:
- 2008/09: Assistant coach, renton Golden Hawks Jr. A
- 2009/10: Assistant Coach, Queen's Gaels - University
How do you instill the values of teamwork and sportsmanship over the season?
Over the season we implement “catch them doing it right” recognition, and this is given out daily to the child, who was a good teammate, who worked hard, who was a good person to their teammates. We talk about the importance of being a good person and rising to a standard that includes teamwork and sportsmanship on a daily basis. Our focus is on having fun and working together as team.
How do you balance skill development while also keeping hockey fun?
One of our core values on our team is to have fun, as such, we combine skill development with fun drills that have the players competing against each other while at the same time fostering an environment that is conducive to growth both on the ice and off.
What is the importance of being a positive role model for your players?
Being a positive role model is everything at the U10 age. When they see the way the coaches do things like picking up tape and holding the door for others, little things, it reverberates through the team. It becomes common practice, when you continue to emphasize the importance that little things matter, when you model the behaviour you want to see, it becomes common practice for the players to learn and act accordingly.
