Regina basketball coach helping athletes for more than 20 years

For more than 20 years, Harmony McMillan has been helping athletes find their self-confidence.

The work the Sacred Heart teacher and coach has put in led to her getting recognized for her efforts as The Green Zone Community Coach of the Month.

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“That’s super kind; definitely brought a smile to my face.” McMillan said.

“I really appreciated this group of parents that I worked with at Regina Christian School this year. They were super supportive.”

The community coach of the month is given to someone who has been nominated for the great work they do with athletes. They are rewarded with a $100 gift card to Source for Sports.

McMillan was nominated for the award for the work she does with the RCS Grizzlies basketball team.

“She has a heart for those less fortunate, and her goal is always to encourage and inspire kids. She not only coaches at her own school, but she spends six to 10 hours a week at RCS pouring her heart into the girls’ Grade 9/10 basketball team,” said the joint nomination from Tara McMillan and Shannon Skolney, who are both parents of girls on the Grizzlies basketball team.

“Harmony not only teaches the girls about basketball, but she teaches them how to be better humans, how to work as a team, how to encourage each other, and to have confidence in themselves and who they are as young women. She sees the struggle young women go through as they grow up in today’s culture, and she encourages them to make goals, spend time together as a team, spend time self-reflecting, and meet with each girl to discuss their basketball goals, skills, improvements as well as their life struggles and accomplishments.”

McMillan teaches kindergarten to Grade 3 at Sacred Heart while coaching at a different school. She also runs a girls’ basketball camp called Roots. The girls’ camp runs from Aug. 5-8, while the co-ed camp goes from Aug. 11-14.

“It is a bit of a juggle, for sure.” McMillan said.

“I think the time and the relationships that you’re investing in, it makes it worth it. That’s what keeps you going and keeps you driven, as well as I have great coaches that I work alongside. That support makes it possible as well.”

After growing up as an athlete, McMillan thought the transition to coaching made sense.

“Being a part of a team has always brought me so much joy,” she said. “I had some great coaches along the way too that inspired me.

“Kids are pretty fun, so there’s naturally a lot of joy involved kids and young people, so there’s a lot of fun involved. It’s super rewarding to see the growth that happens over the course of a season.”

Her niece, Ella McMillan, is now a member of the Grizzlies and she’s had some nephews play for the team as well. In fact, that’s why she first started coaching there.

McMillan said she believes school sports are very important for students as they grow and develop.

“When I consider the girls that I work with, I think one of the great outcomes is just the building of confidence and the sense of belief in self. That’s one of my goals as a coach – is to create an atmosphere and a space where they have an opportunity to grow in that way,” McMillan said.

“That’s something I think that sport does. It helps us to grow in those ways that lasts far beyond what we do on the court and on the playing field. Then there are all the relationships that we build. So many of my friends today are the teammates that I had as high school and as a university athlete. I see that as being a lifelong investment.”

So what advice does she have for other coaches?

She said it’s important to focus on building good relationships, while making sure to have fun at the same time.

“Those two things can be the drivers for you that will create a great environment for your coaching,” McMillan said.

“Learn from people. Ask for help, look for other guides along the way that you can take inspiration from so that you don’t feel a sense of being alone in it. I think the coaching community really can make a difference as well.”