(CMR) The Ministry of Youth, Sports, Culture & Heritage has announced the appointment of young Caymanian Emily Kelly as Assistant Director of Sports – Programmes.
In response to a release from the Ministry, Ms. Kelly’s duties involve overseeing the department’s 20 coaches and sports coordinators to support them in delivering community programs, camps, workshops, recreational leagues, and events, together with school coaching sessions.
She will even help to develop and maintain strong working relationships with local sports associations and organizations to extend collaborative efforts and devise methods of assessing and evaluating programs to maximise the department’s potential.
“I’m so pleased to welcome Ms. Kelly to the team. Her skills, experience and drive are going to greatly enhance our community programs and assist in ongoing talent identification and development,” Director of Sports, Mr. Kurt Hyde said.
The University of Richmond, VA Bachelor of Arts graduate, brings a wealth of US collegiate coaching and administrative experience to her present role. Her time at Division 1 and Division 3 institutions includes two years of coaching on the University of Mary Washington, Fredericksburg, VA, and one season coaching at her alma mater.
Ms. Kelly pursued a Master’s program in Sports Leadership at Virginia Commonwealth University’s Center. Its curriculum sparked her interest in the executive side of faculty athletics, allowing her to support student-athletes with a more holistic approach to athlete development.
She then secured an administrative role because the LEADS Programme Coordinator (a leadership development program that gives a comprehensive and academic view of leadership for student-athletes) at Amherst College, Amherst, MA.
Prior to joining the Department of Sports, she was Director of Student-Athlete Development at University of Massachusetts, Amherst. During that point, Ms. Kelly facilitated quite a few leadership and life skills workshops, guiding athletes on constructing a well-rounded portfolio, identifying transferrable skills, and marketing themselves as they start to navigate life beyond sport.
Speaking about her first post on island, the previous Cayman National U17 and U20 footballer said: “I’m thrilled to hitch the Department of Sports and work alongside so many individuals who’re enthusiastic about our islands’ sports engagement, and empowered me once I was a young athlete.”
“The chance to contribute to constructing a more collaborative culture to boost the event of young Caymanians in sports – each as athletes and people who aspire to work within the industry – energizes me greatly. I’m desperate to help elevate the sports landscape across our islands and feel very grateful to be ready to achieve this,” she added.
