VANCOUVER – UBC Athletics is proud to introduce Maria Gallo, a native of Guelph, Ont., as the new coach for the Thunderbirds women's rugby team.

"It's a new, exciting role," said Gallo. "There are going to be challenges that come on with it but that's why I'm excited. It's going to test my coaching abilities and see what I can do differently at UBC than what's been done in the past."

"I am pleased to welcome Maria to our UBC Thunderbird coaching staff," said Theresa Hanson, UBC's Associate Director, Intercollegiate & High Performance Sport Her experience, professionalism and passion for the game is outstanding and will benefit our women's rugby program as a whole, and I am looking forward to working with her."

An educator, coach and former national team athlete, Gallo brings an impressive mix of experience to her new position.

She has been the UBC women's rugby assistant coach for the past two years and also served in the same position in 2009. Gallo guided the Thunderbirds squad at the Rugby Canada National Invitational University Sevens Championship in Langford, B.C. in the spring.

She is also currently the backs coach for the B.C. Senior Provincial Women's Team, a physiologist and strength and condition coach for Canada's two senior women's rugby teams as well as a consultant for B.C.'s Provincial Para-Alpine Team.

Her previous coaching experience includes a stint as the backs coach of the B.C. Under-19 Provincial Men's Team in the summer of 2012 and a position as player-coach of the Burnaby Lake Rugby Club's Women's Sevens Team (2011-12). Gallo was also the backs coach for the University of Alberta Pandas for two years (2007-08).

From 1999 to 2010, she was a member of the Canadian Women's Senior Sevens National Team, serving as captain. She was also vice-captain for Canada during her time with the Canadian Women's Senior 15s team from 2008 to 2010.

A multi-talented athlete, Gallo was also a member of Canada's National Bobsleigh Team for two years (2003-04).

While she was representing Canada in rugby and bobsleigh, Gallo was also excelling in her academic pursuits. She graduated with honours from the University of Guelph with a Bachelor of Science in 2000. Gallo then began her time at the University of Alberta, where she played for the Pandas rugby team while finishing her PhD in Muscle/Exercise Biochemistry, which was completed in 2007.

At Alberta, Gallo won the Canada West and CIS Most Valuable Player awards in 2002 and CIS titles in 2001 and 2003 to add to the 1998 title she earned at Guelph. She was named a CIS Top 8 Academic All-Canadian in 2003.

From 2008 to 2009, she was a Post-Doctoral Fellow in UBC's School of Human Kinetics (now Kinesiology). Since 2009, Gallo has been an Instructor I at UBC, teaching courses such as Active Health, Exercise Physiology and Coaching Science.

Her athletic achievements were celebrated with an induction to the Guelph Gryphon Hall of Fame in 2010.

Gallo replaces Lesley McKenzie, who resigned from her position to pursue coaching opportunities in New Zealand.

She will begin her new job immediately as the UBC team continues preparations for the first regular season game of the 2013 Canada West season on Sunday, Sept. 22 at home against the University of Lethbridge.

"I've met with our strength and conditioning coach. In the past, size has been a bit of an issue with us so I'm eager to get our players on a good strength and conditioning program as soon as possible," said Gallo. "Also, we have to improve on our individual skills so I'll be working this summer with our local players to make sure that's improving on a daily basis."