BY Jadon Frank
Niels Slotboom is the new head coach for both men’s and women’s soccer and futsal programs for the 2018-19 season.
Slotboom has been actively coaching for more than 10 years, with his first coaching position coming at the age of 16 years while still living in the Netherlands.
Slotboom joined the Broncos program in 2015, and in that time has been heavily involved in training, recruiting and retaining players for both women’s and men’s programs at Olds College.
Slotboom first immigrated to Canada in 2006. He lived in Lethbridge and coached the competitive Lethbridge FC program for roughly eight years, from grassroots to U-18 at all skill levels.
Many of his former players are currently active in the Alberta Collegiate Athletics Conference (ACAC) and in national post-secondary athletics leagues.
Slotboom moved to Calgary in 2015, where he coached a number of different programs. In addition to his role as head coach of both Broncos soccer squads, he is also the technical director for Royal West FC, a youth club located in northwest Calgary.
“I look forward to the opportunity to lead the Broncos soccer and futsal programs against the top teams in the ACAC,” Slotboom says.
“I competed in the ACAC for four years as a player, which familiarized me with the ACAC landscape. Being appointed to a head coaching position in the ACAC is a testament to the mentors and others who have assisted and taught me along the way.”
Slotboom played for two ACAC squads during his career, beginning with the Lakeland Rustlers (2011 – 2013), where he completed his business diploma with an appraisal and assessment major.
He then became a member of the Olds College Broncos (2015 and 2016), during which time he completed professional development courses in land and water resources, and the land analyst program.
Coach Slotboom is taking over for veteran coach Macky Singh, who coached the Broncos men’s and women’s teams. He led the women’s team to its first-ever playoff berth, and was named the 2017 ACAC South men’s soccer coach of the year.
Singh will be moving with his family to Fort McMurray, where he has been named head coach of the Keyano College Huskies men’s and women’s soccer and futsal teams, and the technical director of the Fort McMurray Youth Soccer Association.
Singh has been the head coach of the Broncos men’s and women’s soccer and futsal teams for the past four years.
“I would like to thank coach Singh for the years of dedication and inspiring Olds College Broncos student-athletes,” says Olds College athletics director Linda Henderson.
“I would also like to welcome coach Niels Slotboom. We look forward to a new generation of Broncos soccer and futsal under Niels’ guidance.”
Jadon Frank is the game day events and promotions programmer for Olds Broncos athletics.
