Irene Tang
Phone: 780-465-3500 ext. 8091
Email: irene.tang@kingsu.ca
King’s Athletics is excited to welcome back the All-Time Career Assist Leader in ACAC Basketball and Eagles Female Athlete of the Year, Irene Tang, as the Athletics & Recreation Coordinator and Women’s Basketball Assistant Coach.
As Captain of the Women’s Basketball Team Irene played her entire college career at King’s and graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce Degree in 2009. During her 5 years in an Eagles uniform she was a pivotal cornerstone along with Maia deKlerk and Hilary Smith that transformed the struggling women’s program into a perennial playoff contender after her freshman year with her charisma, passion, and athletic prowess. In her 2nd season she took a 2-22 team and led them to an astonishing 14-10 record where they upset numerous nationally ranked teams, beat the defending national champs, and earned the program’s first-ever play-off berth.
Under Irene’s leadership her and her teammates re-wrote the King’s and ACAC record books year after year as they earned multiple national rankings and made playoffs for 4 consecutive seasons with their high-octane play and unique family dynamic. As one of the most prolific passers and electric players in the league over her career, she was decorated with numerous academic and athletic awards including 2 ACAC All-Star nods, as well as breaking the ACAC All-Time Assist Record and winning the team’s first medal (bronze) on their 1st trip to the Final Four in her 5th and final season.
In 2008 Irene and her team created a highly successful breast cancer awareness campaign called, “Have you ever seen a BALD Eagle Before?!” that was overwhelmingly embraced and supported by the entire King’s and ACAC community. They raised $6330 during the 3 month campaign which culminated with Irene and 3 teammates shaving their heads for cancer! They played the entire second semester as BALD Eagles!
Irene was extremely active off the court in student-life as she was an integral part of the Athletics Department for 4 years where she helped with things like Game Day preparation, daily Athletics duties, and creating the Eagles Statistical Archives to name a few. She worked at the ACAC Office for 2 summers on internships and has worked at NBC Basketball camps every summer since 2006 where they teach youth life skills through basketball.
Her contributions both on and off the court at King’s and NBC gave her the prestigious honor of being selected by Coca-Cola as a 2010 Olympic Torchbearer.
Awards & Achievements:
2010 Olympic TorchbearerACAC All-Time Career Assist Leader
King’s Female Athlete of the Year
ACAC All Conference All-Star (x2)
CCAA Academic All-Canadian (x2)
ACAC Academic Award (x4)
King’s Student Life Award in Athletics
Eagles Team MVP
Eagles Coaches Leadership Award (x3)
Numerous Business Scholarships