Brandon University Athletics

Sara Gillis (nee Conlin) has been involved with basketball for over 40 years.
 
She was a provincial high school all-star with the Crocus Plainsmen before beginning her career at Brandon University.
 
Gillis wore Bobcat blue and gold for five seasons and was named BU's Female Athlete of the Year in 1984-85.
 
She represented Manitoba for four straight years and helped the provincial team to a silver medal at the Canada Games in '85.
 
She transitioned to coaching seamlessly and guided the Thompson-based R.D. Parker Trojans to four straight AAA provincial finals while capturing back-to-back varsity girls' championships in 2015 and 2016.
 
On top of building a strong high school program, she ran youth clinics and camps to help grow the game in northern Manitoba. She was also a basketball official for close to three decades.

She retired as an educator after 29 years and was presented the prestigious Mike Spack Lifetime Achievement Award by Basketball Manitoba.
 
Gillis also helped served an assistant coach with Manitoba at the under-17 female national championships and has volunteered at various high-profile events including the 2017 Canada Games.

She is a member of Basketball Manitoba's Board of Directors and serves as a volunteer coach with the organization's targeted athlete program.