L’entraîneuse du contrôle de la qualité offensive de ROUGE et NOIR, Nadia Doucoure, rêve grand en anglais

Progress: for REDBLACKS’ Offensive Quality Control Coach Nadia Doucoure, it means a couple of different things.

On the one hand, the progress is personal. A native of France, she earned her coaching qualifications in Europe, before coming to Canada and getting a part-time job with the Carleton Ravens, where she served as a defensive assistant. From there, Doucoure made her way to the REDBLACKS, talking her way onto the field as a guest coach in 2022, before being hired as a scout.

In her career, the steps have been huge. Sometimes they have taken a while, but in recent years, she has roared her way up the ladder, landing consistently bigger and bigger roles. Now, it’s her job, which in and of itself, is a huge deal.

“I’m very happy to be back in football full time, and continue to build on my passion because before, it really was just [something I did] because of passion,” Doucoure said.

The progress being made by Doucoure has sent shockwaves through various football leagues, however. She became the first-ever female coach in the history of Carleton’s football program, and after being hired by the REDBLACKS this offseason, becomes the second-ever full-time coach in the CFL’s long history, coming just over a year after Tanya Walters did so with the BC Lions.

“It feels like a door is opening,” Doucoure said. “Others can see this and say ‘oh, maybe this is something that I can actually do,’ which in the past, maybe they thought was impossible. I’m very happy that the next generation can have that.”

Her passion for football has brought her all this way, but had it not been for sheer willpower, that may have never been the case. Back in France, there was never an option to play football – not because of the lack of interest in Europe, but rather because of her gender.

As more doors are opened – by Doucoure herself, and those around her – she hopes that girls will start playing football at a higher rate.

“When I was younger, I wanted to play, but I was told I couldn’t,” Doucoure said. “I played flag football and rugby, and I don’t want to see that happening to other girls anymore.”

Even with her wealth of football experience, Doucoure came into the league as green as any other first-time professional. She looked to gain as much CFL experience as possible and turned her sights to Patrick Bourgon, the REDBLACKS’ Linebackers Coach, who is Francophone. The French connection made it easy for Doucoure to make Bourgon her mentor of sorts, adding that he has become her go-to whenever she needs opinions.

“We had a real connection, and I asked him a lot of questions,” Doucoure said. “He helped me out a lot, and then when Shawn Burke offered me the scouting position, I went right to him and asked him what he thought. He told me I would learn a lot, and I’m very happy with that relationship.”

Before Doucoure, the role of a Quality Control Coach was done by committee for the REDBLACKS. There are plenty of minute details to care for, that previously would have been done by whoever had some extra time, but thanks to her commitment and growth

“I’m working with Nate Taylor, and helping Coach Dyce with some practice planning,” Doucoure said. “It’s a lot of maintaining the calendar and scheduling things. You have to make sure things are ready and set before guys show up for training camp.”

Every step of the way, Doucoure has been thankful that she has gotten this far, but the fire still burns hot even more.

“My dream is to be an offensive coordinator,” Doucoure said without hesitation, obviously having dreamt of it for a long time. “I have more objectives, but you have to work hard to actually get there.”