Jess Neilson joined the Lions women’s rugby program as head coach in 2020.
Neilson came to York with an extensive resume in the sport as an athlete, coach and manager. Most recently, she was the team manager and assistant coach of the Victoria Vikes for the 2019 season, returning to the program where she enjoyed a tremendous playing career. While with the Vikes as a student-athlete, she won the Canada West championship in 2015, the same season she was the conference’s most valuable player. Throughout her career she was a three-time Canada West all-star, a two-time U SPORTS all-Canadian and a national championship all-star twice.
She also excelled in the classroom, earning U SPORTS academic all-Canadian honours and a place on the University of Victoria honour roll four times each.
Neilson was a national team member for five seasons and her coaching resume includes serving as the head coach of the girls’ teams for both the BC U16 team and Oak Bay High School.
Away from the rugby pitch, Neilson has an undergraduate degree in political science with a minor in public administration from the University of Victoria, as well as a project management certificate from the University of Toronto. Her career has taken her to the Legislative Assembly and the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing in her home province.
