NEWS: Sarah Besselink named head coach of the Calgary Dinos women’s basketball program

On Wednesday, the University of Calgary Dinos announced that Gee-Gees women's basketball lead assistant coach Sarah Besselink would be the next head coach of their women's basketball program.

Besselink joined the team's coaching staff in 2020-21 before being hired in a full-time capacity ahead of the 2021-22 season. In her time as Lead Assistant Coach, Ottawa has seen outstanding success, posting a 65-15 record in the OUA in four seasons, culminating in a Critelli Cup win and U SPORTS bronze medal this season.

Outside of her time with Ottawa, Besselink won a National Championship as head coach of Team Ontario's U15 Girls program in 2024 and has held various other coaching roles with the Ontario provincial program since beginning her coaching career.

An alumna of the Gee-Gees program, the Kingston, Ontario native played five seasons from 2013-19.

"I am very thankful for all the wonderful memories on and off the court over the last 12 years," said Besselink. "uOttawa has allowed me to grow as a person and a coach and it will always hold a special place in my heart. Thank you to everyone who has been a part of my journey here, uOttawa has set a high standard which I will be bringing with me onto my next chapter!"

Besselink was named to an OUA Second Team All-Star twice in 2017 and 2019 also receiving All-Rookie Team honours in 2014. In her final season, the Gee-Gees won a bronze medal, only their second national medal in history at the time.

Besselink's 850 career points ranks fifth in team history, she also ranks third in most three-pointers made (125), and fourth in most games played with 92, despite missing the majority of the 2014-15 season, and the entire 2017-18 season with injuries.

She graduated from the U of O with an Honours Bachelor of Human Kinetics in 2018 and again with a Bachelor of Education in 2020.

The Dinos program was ranked in the Top 10 throughout the entire season last year, peaking at 3rd. They posted a 29-6 overall record last season and have made the U SPORTS Final 8 in two of the past three seasons.

Besselink will officially close her time with the Gee-Gees on April 30.