Burnaby Football Club is welcoming two new female senior staff coaches.
Kim Bull has been hired as female football and character development coach, and Kat Tomic is girls' and women’s U21 head coach.
Bull and Tomic will continue their roles at Mountain United FC and Cliff Avenue Football Club until the football club is fully integrated in June and begins play in the 2023-24 season, Burnaby FC said in a release.
Burnaby FC’s executive director Morgan Quarry said the hirings come as a way for the club to show its commitment to player wellness, character development and the importance of encouraging girls and women to get involved and stay in the sport.
“Kim and Kat share our belief in the necessity of having a clear understanding of our players’ needs and motivations to ensure they not only enjoy their soccer experiences but develop and improve as well,” Quarry said. “Their combined knowledge, experience and passion to achieve this balance is evident every time you interact with them or watch them coach and will be a massive asset to our members.”
Burnaby FC is extremely excited to announce Kim Bull and Kat Tomic as Senior Staff Coaches. https://t.co/KpGVS1E8OQ pic.twitter.com/mYPIb0qeRb
— BGSC (@BurnabyGirlsSC) March 13, 2023
Bull, who holds a Canadian Soccer Association children’s licence, a provincial B licence and a goalkeeper diploma, is a trained learning facilitator for the BC Soccer Association and coaching mentor with the National Coaching Certification Program.
Her playing career began with a successful run as a goalkeeper at the University of Fraser Valley, where she completed a kinesiology degree before pursuing coaching and leadership opportunities. She held various roles including technical director, head of grassroots development, director of goalkeeper development and assistant coach for organizations including the BC provincial program, Vancouver Whitecaps Elite/ REX and post-secondary institutions such as UBC-Okanagan and Kwantlen Polytechnic University, where she helped lead the team to consecutive national championship tournaments.
Bull also has a social services diploma, and is a certified positive psychology practitioner specializing in character development. She has experience working as a cognitive behaviour interventionist and is certified in resilience and well-being, meditation and mindfulness, and working with the Inner Critic.
“With pride, I represent the female athletes of Burnaby FC and look forward to watching the youth of our community excel and continue to love the beautiful game,” Bull said.
“The Club's investment in people inspires me most about my role with Burnaby FC," she said. "There is a unified vision to push the limits of what is possible when taking on the responsibility of developing the athlete and the person. Each conversation I have had with the leadership team of Burnaby FC has been grounded in valuing one another’s strengths to serve our members and community best. I am so grateful to have the opportunity to participate in this initiative.”
Tomic began playing soccer under her father’s coaching when she was just three years old. Her strong game was rooted in her family — with her parents’ and older brother’s involvement in the game. Born in Canada with a Croatian background, falling in love with soccer was in the cards for Tomic.
Tomic was involved with Cliff Avenue United Football Club (between ages seven and 16) before joining the first female HPL Mountain United FC team, where she played from ages 17 to 18.
Following a significant injury requiring multiple surgeries in 2014, Tomic pivoted from a player to coach. She was one of the first 10 women chosen to be part of the BC Soccer Female Mentorship Program in 2022. In the same year, she was appointed as the first female president of Croatia SC, and has been accepted into the CSA National B Diploma program with the aim of completing certification in 2024. She has completed her C licence and provincial B licence and holds all Grassroots Coaching Certificates.
“The amalgamation of five soccer clubs is a monumental change within our community,” Tomic said. “My excitement is fueled by dedication, passion, and love for soccer, bringing an extraordinary experience to athletes who can now entirely carve a path in their soccer journeys with Burnaby FC. It is an honour and a privilege to be a part of a club that will strive to be ‘Best in Class’ to ensure a fun learning environment that provides a high calibre of player development and safety.”
