Tanya Walter, CFL's first full-time female coach eager to get to work with B.C. Lions

As the CFL's first full-time female coach, Tanya Walter knows she's paving the way for future generations.

Right now, though, she's focused on making sure the B.C. Lions defence is ready for the season ahead.

"My biggest thing is being the best coach that I can be throughout the season," said the defensive assistant. "I'm sure there's gonna be opportunities as well to have an impact on [other women]. But the reality, is my focus in season is going to be on doing my job."

There have already been ample opportunities to learn from her new colleagues, she said, including from former Montreal Alouettes defensive end John Bowman, who joins B.C. as a first-year defensive line coach this season.

"It's been nice to actually finally get on the field and interact with players and interact with our coaches and actually be doing the football part of it," Walter said. "Obviously, all the office stuff is part of the position and part of being a coach at this level, but it's been a long time coming to actually get out on the field."

The former linebacker is used to being called coach.

Walter, who played for the Edmonton Storm of the Western Women's Canadian Football League, previously coached at Edmonton's St. Francis Xavier High School, with the Canadian Junior Football League's Edmonton Huskies and for the West Edmonton Raiders girls tackle football squad.

She looked at ease running drills on Monday, her long blond hair pulled into a ponytail, orange and black sneakers echoing the club colours on her track jacket. As the team ran plays, she studied the action from the sidelines, taking notes.

Her attention to detail is one of the attributes Rick Campbell liked during the hiring process.

"I wasn't necessarily looking for a female, I