From soccer player to head coach of CF Montréal’s women’s program: Julie Casselman’s journey

By Emmanuelle Champagne 

Before becoming the coach· of the women’s program at the CF Montréal Academy, Julie Casselman had only one dream: to become a professional soccer player. Sometimes, life’s twists and turns mean that our path can change—and for the better. 

She started playing soccer at the age of four. Originally from the Outaouais region, she joined the regional team in Gatineau, FC Gatineau, formerly known as the Hull Soccer Association. 

By the age of 14, she was playing for the Quebec team. Shortly thereafter, she received an invitation from the National High-Performance Center (CNHP) in Laval. She gladly accepted the offer. She packed her bags and moved in with a host family in Laval to pursue her dream. 

“My plan was to make a career in sports and nothing else,” says Julie Casselman, head coach of the women’s program at the CF Montréal Academy. 

On the way to the United States

After a few training camps with the U17 national team and several competitions with the U20 national team, she headed to Kentucky. More specifically, to the city of Louisville, where she chose to pursue a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice at the university. Her choice of major had nothing to do with her passion for sports. She chose this program solely to continue playing soccer there. 

When physical health takes precedence

Julie Casselman suffered her fifth concussion when she started playing for Louisville. The team doctors therefore ordered her to sit out to prevent further damage to her health. Her dream of becoming a professional soccer player thus took a different turn. 

To keep her on the team, the coach asked her to organize one-on-one sessions with players who needed extra help. That’s when Julie Casselman became interested in a career in coaching·. 

Upon returning to Quebec, she became a coach·for soccer clubs on a part-time basis. Three years later, in 2015, she took on the role of a full-time educator. From 2015 to 2019, she worked as an educator for a sports-study program located in the Lanaudière region.

His role as a coach·began to evolve when Soccer Québec offered her a full-time position as women’s soccer coordinator. The aspect of the job that involved more management and organization piqued her curiosity. 

She also served as an assistant at the National High-Performance Center (CNHP) for two consecutive years, from 2019 to 2022. 

Life is looking up for her just as she steps down as head coach of the women’s program at the CF Montréal Academy. Since CF Montréal is taking over the CNHP, she is delighted to have made the transition from Soccer QC to CF Montréal, becoming the new head coach of CF Montréal’s women’s program.