The Manitoba Bisons women's soccer program will have a new head coach on the bench for the first time since the team entered the CIS (Canadian Interuniversity Sport) in the Canada West conference starting in 2005. Outgoing Bison women's soccer head coach Walt McKee has stepped down from his coaching role due to medical reasons.

Over the last five seasons in CIS play, McKee, 61, guided the team to a winning regular season record of  35-32-5 (52% winning percentage) plus two playoff berths. The Herd was ranked in the CIS Top 10 for 15 different weeks while reaching a high of number three in the country during the 2008 season. In addition, he coached five Canada West All-Stars and one CIS All-Canadian. The best season occurred in 2007 when the Bisons finished with a program-high ten wins with only four losses for third place in the ten team conference standings followed by a quarter-final victory over Alberta before reaching the semi-finals against Victoria.

“I have enjoyed my tenure at the University of Manitoba - it has been a privilege to work with such dedicated and hard working student-athletes and staff who are committed to competing at the CIS level,” stated McKee.

McKee started the Bison women's soccer program as a club team with assistant coach Gary Johnson in the 2000 season and was instrumental in bringing the program from club to varsity sport status in 2005.

Prior to the Bison women's soccer program, McKee was part of the then termed Faculty of Physical Education and Recreation Studies as Athletic Director from 1993-2001. The Bison teams won ten CIS National Championships during his tenure. He moved into the responsibility of the Assistant to the Dean, Programs and Services for the Faculty of Physical Education and Recreation Studies from 2001 to 2007.

Bison Sports Athletic Director Coleen Dufresne said, “I really enjoyed working with Walt when he was A.D. (Athletic Director) and as our soccer coach. I value his knowledge, his integrity and his sense of fairness. He is highly respected throughout the league and I know both coaches and AD.\'s alike join me in wishing him a full recovery and look forward to seeing him on the sidelines.”

Over McKee's 37 years of coaching, the National Coaching Certification Program (NCCP) Level 5 Certified coach has had numerous accolades and achievements. He was a founding member of the Winnipeg Fury Soccer Club – Canadian Soccer League (1986-90); an assistant coach of the Canadian National Soccer Team in 1986; coach of Western Canada Games women's soccer team – bronze medallist in 2002; coach of the Under 15 Girls Provincial Soccer Team from 1994-97; co-coach of Winnipeg Alliance FC – Canadian Major Indoor Soccer League in 2007; on the Board of Directors of Manitoba Soccer Association – MSA (2007 to present) and MSA Fred Strambrook Outstanding Volunteer Award in 2005.

Before McKee's involvement as a Bison Sports coach and administrator, he was a student-athlete as he earned his Bachelor of Physical Education degree in 1972. McKee was a member of the Manitoba Bisons Football Vanier Cup Championship teams in 1969 and 1970 plus a member of the Bison men's soccer team (1969-1971) and a member of the Bison men's wrestling team (1969, 1970 and 1971).