If a local athlete enjoyed success throwing the shot put, discus , javelin or hammer over the last 30 years, it’s likely they were coached by Denise Hebert.

 After an outstanding high school and collegiate career, Hebert went on to achieve great success teaching others.

As a member of Team Canada’s staff, the Windsor native coached more than 25 athletes at international competitions, including the IAAF World Youth Championships (2003), the IAAF World Junior Championships (’00, ’04, ’08, ’13), the Pan Am Juniors (’01, ’05, ’11) and the World University Games (’01).

Provincially, she coached Team Ontario athletes at four Canadian Youth Championships (’01, ’08, ’13, 17) and the 2005 Canada Games.

For over 10 years, Hebert was the throws coach for the vaunted University of Windsor track team. From 2000-present, the UWindsor Lancers won four Canadian Interuniversity Sport men’s team championships and four CIS women’s team titles. Hebert coached seven individual CIS All-Canadians.  

In more than 30 years as a teacher with the Windsor-Essex Catholic District School Board, Hebert coached volleyball, basketball, swimming and track, winning two Ontario Federation of School Athletic Associations’ titles as a coach with the St. Joseph’s senior boys’ track and field team.  

 Prior to attending Oklahoma University and UWindsor, Hebert starred at Assumption College High School where she won nine OFSAA medals (1 gold, 3 silver, 5 bronze). Competing for the South Windsor Knights of Columbus team, she was the 1978 Canadian midget age-group champion in shot, discus and javelin and the 1980 Canadian youth age-group champ in javelin.

Hebert now joins the builders’ category in the Windsor/Essex County Sports Hall of Fame.