For Immediate Release
August 21, 2025
Football Ontario Thanks HC Carlie Manners for her Leadership and Legacy
Football Ontario Thanks Carlie Manners for her Time Leading the U18 Program
Hamilton, Ontario – Football Ontario and Team Ontario are proud to recognize and thank Head Coach Carlie Manners for her outstanding leadership and dedication to the Team Ontario U18 Women’s Tackle program over the past three seasons.Coach Manners has completed her tenure as Head Coach of the program, and Football Ontario will be hiring a new Head Coach for 2026.
“Thank you to the athletes, parents, coaching staff, and especially Emily Todd for the trust, dedication, and unwavering support during my time with this program. Over the past three years I’ve treated this role like a full-time job and set ambitious goals for what we could achieve together—and that trust and support were integral to our success,” says Coach Manners.
Coach Manners’ impact on women’s football in Ontario and across the country has been historic. She first joined the Team Ontario program as an Offensive Line Coach for Team Red in 2023, before taking on the role of Head Coach of Team Red in 2024 and returning as Head Coach in 2025.
Coach Manners says, “In these three years we’ve grown this sport for young women, and every time we raised the standard of excellence for this program, the athletes and coaches met it with enthusiasm. I’m honoured to be a small part of the bigger and still-brightening legacy of this program, and I’m excited to continue supporting the development of women in this space in new ways,”
In 2024, Coach Manners became the first female head coach to win a U18 Women’s Tackle National Championship, while also delivering Ontario’s first-ever National Championship title in the program’s history. In 2025, she built on this success by recruiting athletes from every region of Ontario, strengthening connections with high school and community coaches, and fostering strong relationships with athletes and families. Under her leadership, Team Ontario proudly earned a silver medal at the 2025 National Championship in Calgary.
This past May, Coach Manners furthered her coaching journey through the CFL Women in Football Program, joining the Winnipeg Blue Bombers coaching staff. She used this valuable experience to elevate programming and coaching standards within Team Ontario, ensuring athletes received the highest level of support and development.
Beyond her contributions with Team Ontario, Coach Manners continues to advance the sport through her roles at both the USport and community levels. She is currently on staff as the Assistant Offensive Line Coach for the University of Toronto Varsity Blues Men’s Tackle program and is also on the Etobicoke Eagles U19 Women’s Tackle coaching staff. Off the field, she is pursuing her PhD in History at the University of Toronto, showcasing her passion for both athletics and academics.
“Coach Carlie’s leadership has transformed the Team Ontario women’s tackle program. She has not only raised the standard of excellence on the field but has also inspired athletes to grow as leaders and people off the field,” says Emily Todd, Director of Development and Administration. “She continues to be a strong role model for women in sport across the country.”
Football Ontario and Team Ontario extend our heartfelt gratitude to Coach Manners for her commitment, passion, and trailblazing leadership. We wish her the very best in her future endeavors.
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ABOUT FOOTBALL ONTARIO: Football Ontario is the sanctioned provincial governing body for football in Ontario, through its focus on transparency, growth, alignment and excellence, is engaged in providing football opportunities for all of Ontario. Football Ontario is driven by a commitment to deliver football programming, opportunities and resources for its members and the provincial football stakeholders. Please visit: footballontario.net
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