Barrott makes history as Tides visit Calgary

Barrott makes history as Tides visit Calgary
Published on
August 15, 2025

Katie Barrott first New Zealand-born woman to coach a professional soccer club

Halifax Tides FC will have Katie Barrott as head coach for their upcoming match Saturday, August 16, against Calgary Wild FC. The game marks her as the first New Zealand-born female head coach to lead a professional soccer club worldwide.

Barrott has been with the Tides as an assistant coach since February and will step into the head coaching role for this one-match opportunity while head coach Stephen Hart is away. Barrott has over eight years of experience in high-performance coaching and four years in a professional club environment. Her coaching philosophy emphasizes process-driven planning while prioritizing the development and care of individual players within the club.

A former player herself, Barrott transitioned into coaching early in her career, guided by mentors in New Zealand and professional environments abroad. Her approach reflects a blend of ambition, tactical understanding, and attention to the personal growth of players, aiming to bring out the best in everyone on the squad.

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Katie & Stephen

Barrott described the appointment as a meaningful milestone. “I wasn’t aware of this stat until someone told me. It’s obviously a special moment, and I’m proud to represent both my home country and this club. It makes me grateful for everyone who has helped me along the way,” she said.

The Tides enter the match following a first victory over Calgary on July 7 at home, along with two draws in subsequent games. Barrott emphasized continuity and focus as key to success, noting that the team’s processes remain central to achieving results. Composure, confidence, and execution in front of goal are priorities as Halifax looks to secure three points on the road.

"If you lead each day with gratitude, you’ll usually be a good person. If you’re a good person, you’ll lead well. If you lead well, you’ll get success." said coach Barrott.

The Halifax Tides will face Saturday, August 16 at 5:00 p.m. AT in Calgary, with Barrott at the helm, aiming to maintain the team’s positive culture and momentum while achieving success on the pitch. You can watch the match on CBC Gem, or NSL.ca.