Burnaby, BC –
Burnaby FC announced today the hiring of Kim Bull as Senior Staff Coach – Female Football and Character Development and Kat Tomic as Senior Staff Coach – Girls and Women’s U21 Head Coach.
“It was imperative for us as a Club to show our commitment to player wellness, character development and the importance of encouraging girls and women to get involved and stay in our sport,” said Executive Director Morgan Quarry. “Kim and Kat share our belief in the necessity of having a clear understanding of our players’ needs and motivations to ensure they not only enjoy their soccer experiences but develop and improve as well. Their combined knowledge, experience, and passion to achieve this balance is evident every time you interact with them or watch them coach and will be a massive asset to our members.”
Bull brings a wealth of knowledge in player and coach development in British Columbia. Following a successful playing career as a goalkeeper at the University of the Fraser Valley, she turned her focus to coaching and leadership opportunities. She has held various leadership roles, including Technical Director, Head of Grassroots Development, and Director of Goalkeeper Development, Assistant Coach for the BC Provincial Program, Vancouver Whitecaps Elite/ REX, and post-secondary institutions, including UBC-Okanagan and Kwantlen College, where she helped lead the team to consecutive National Championship tournaments.
Bull holds a Canadian Soccer Association Children’s Licence, Provincial B Licence, and Goalkeeper Diploma, is a trained Learning Facilitator for the BC Soccer Association and a trained Coaching Mentor with the National Coaching Certification Program. She has completed four years of Kinesiology at the University of Fraser Valley and has a Social Services Diploma. She specializes in character development and is a Certified Positive Psychology Practitioner. She has experience working as a cognitive behaviour interventionist and is certified in Resilience and Well-Being, Meditation and Mindfulness, and Working with the Inner Critic.
“With pride, I represent the female athletes of Burnaby FC and look forward to watching the youth of our community excel and continue to love the beautiful game,” said Bull. “The Club’s investment in people inspires me most about my role with Burnaby FC. There is a unified vision to push the limits of what is possible when taking on the responsibility of developing the athlete and the person. Each conversation I have had with the leadership team of Burnaby FC has been grounded in valuing one another’s strengths to serve our members and community best. I am so grateful to have the opportunity to participate in this initiative.”
Born in Canada and with a Croatian background, it was natural for Tomic to fall in love with soccer. She started playing at three years of age (coached by her father), following in her parent’s footsteps and an older brother, who was already actively involved in the game. Between the ages of 7-16, she continued to sharpen her skills with Cliff Avenue United Football Club before joining the first female HPL Mountain United FC team, where she played from ages 17-18. In 2014, Tomic experienced a significant injury which required multiple surgical procedures. Despite this setback she remained passionate about soccer and led her to reassess her career, pivoting from player to coach.
“The amalgamation of five soccer clubs is a monumental change within our community,” said Tomic. “My excitement is fueled by dedication, passion, and love for soccer, bringing an extraordinary experience to athletes who can now entirely carve a path in their soccer journeys with Burnaby FC. It is an honour and a privilege to be a part of a club that will strive to be ‘Best in Class’ to ensure a fun learning environment that provides a high calibre of player development and safety.”
In 2022, Tomic was one of the first 10 women chosen to be part of the BC Soccer Female Mentorship Program, a program created to promote female coaching. She has successfully completed her C Licence and Provincial B Licence and holds all Grassroots Coaching Certificates. In 2022, she was appointed the first female president of Croatia SC. Kat has been accepted into the CSA National B Diploma program with a target to complete the certification in 2024.
Both will continue their roles at Mountain United FC and Cliff Avenue Football Club until Burnaby FC is fully integrated in June 2023 and begins play in the 2023-2024 season.