Faucon wins Martyn Trophy

Story by John Wilson

Jan Faucon has been coaching basketball in this area for over 15 years.

Considered an ‘in the trenches’ type of coach, her hard work has paid off as she has been named the George Martyn Memorial Trophy winner for basketball.

Faucon, a teacher at Chippewa Secondary School, has always prided herself as someone who helps out whenever she can with various athletes.

“I like to think that an all rounded athlete is what every coach should strive for.

Encouraging athletes to take part in other sports will only help in skill development,” she said.

“I would like to be able to give them the opportunity to take basketball further,” she added.

Faucon has had the opportunity to coach many solid athletes throughout her career including Diane O’Grady, Olympic paddler and Walter Johnson, university basketball player just to name a few.

She began coaching basketball in her second year of teaching and it developed into a passion.

She has worked with both programs at CSS and West Ferris Secondary School while teaching there in the mid 1980s.

Faucon has also participated at Olympia Sports Camp, northeast of Huntsville, as a basketball instructor for the past 23 years.

In November, Faucon won the Ontario Federation of School Athletic Associations award for basketball and it was presented at the girls ‘AA’ championships in North Bay.

“It was awesome and very unexpected. You usually credit those awards to people with big win records, but it was nice to win it as I consider myself an in the trenches kind of coach,” she said

Faucon has always enjoyed her coaching and says the passion for the kids is what makes the difference. Hard work is the cornerstone of her philosophy and a love of the game makes everything more enjoyable.

Presently she is involved with coordinating the North Bay Basketball Association, for children aged six to 12. It takes place in the spring as a seven-week development camp.

Obviously her passion for the game is as strong as ever.