Coach Angela Orton started as the Head Coach of the University of Guelph Women’s Basketball Team in 1990. In addition to her coaching duties, Angela holds the position of Manager of Intercollegiate Programs in the Department of Athletics at the University of Guelph. In this capacity, she is responsible for overseeing the budgets and scheduling of 30 intercollegiate programs, being a resource for other coaches, ensuring that teams are meeting league requirements and handling any disciplinary problems that may arise. She also attends bi-annual OUA (Ontario University Athletics) and CIS (Canadian Interuniversity Sport) meetings to discuss rule changes, regulations, eligibility requirements for student athletes and the promotion of anti-doping education for all varsity athletic teams at the University of Guelph.
Over her illustrious coaching career, Angela has established herself as one of the premier coaches in the OUA. Over the past 9 years, she has been named the OUA West Division Coach of the Year on 4 occasions. In addition to her OUA Coach of the Year honours, in 2005, Angela was named the Fox 40 Coach of the Year amongst all Ontario university coaches.
Under Angela’s direction, in 2004-05, the Gryphons finished with the best record in the OUA and went on to win the first OUA Women’s Basketball Championship for the University of Guelph in 25 years.
Coach Orton came to the University of Guelph in 1988 with considerable experience in OUA and CIS basketball. A four time OUA All-Star, and three time CIS All Canadian, she graduated from the University of Toronto with a Bachelor of Science degree and captained the 1985-86 University of Toronto Blues to a CIS National Championship. In addition, she represented Canada on the Junior National and Canadian National Team from 1983-1988. In May 1999, Angela was inducted into the University of Toronto Sports Hall of Fame based on her athletic accomplishments. In 2004, she was inducted for a second time, but on this occasion, as a member of the 1985-86 Varsity Blues Basketball team that captured the OUA and CIS titles. That year, Orton was selected team MVP.
Making the transition to coaching in 1986, Coach Orton started her coaching career at Seneca College, before arriving at the University of Guelph. She was a member of the Ontario Junior Women’s Provincial Team Coaching Staff from 1991-97 and the Head Coach of the National Junior Championships Gold Medalists, Team Ontario, in 1994, 1995 and 1996. In 1997, Angela coached Team Ontario to a Silver Medal at the Canada Summer Games. During the summer of 1999, Angela was the Head Coach of the Canadian National Student Team, which placed 7th at the World University Games in Spain and 4th at the Jones Cup International Basketball Tournament in Taiwan.
In the summer months, Angela is the Co-Director of the University of Guelph Basketball Camp and for the past 20 years has been proud to call the City of Guelph, “home”.
