Nov. 14, 2015 – Jean-Francois Gagné of the Volontaires de Sherbrooke has been named the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association Cross-Country Running Coach of the Year.
He received the award this evening at the 2015 CCAA Cross-Country Running National Championships banquet, hosted by St. Lawrence College in Brockville, ON.
Gagné guided the Volontaires men’s team to a gold-medal performance at the RSEQ Championship. They were also victorious in three other events during the season, including a first-place finish at the St. Lawrence - Brockville Invitational
“Jean-Francois has assembled and trained a very talented group of runners in Sherbrooke,” said Bill Corcoran, the CCAA’s Cross-Country Running Convenor. “He’s a young, motivated coach who is building an outstanding cross-country running program.”
Despite losing two of their best runners from the 2014 team, the Volontaires were the top ranked CCAA men’s team all season.
Gagné also coached the women’s team at Sherbrooke to a fifth-place finish at the RSEQ Championship. The women’s team had victories in two events this season.
He is also an assistant coach and strength and conditioning coach for the University of Sherbrooke CIS track and field team.
Gagné aims to give every student-athlete all the tools needed to succeed in both academics and athletics. He trains his athletes year-round and is heavily involved in recruitment.
CCAA Coach of the Year winners receive a customized ring provided by Jostens Canada, the Official Ring Supplier of the CCAA Championship Awards Banquet.
OTHER NOMINEES
| Bertil Johansson | Teresa Arnini | Bobbi-Jo Wagner | ||
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| Lethbridge Kodiaks | Humber Hawks | Crandall Chargers | ||
| Johansson guided the Lethbridge Kodiaks to gold medals in both the men’s and women’s divisions at the ACAC Championship. Two male Lethbridge runners also took home individual medals (gold, bronze). Johansson has pursued excellence in both academics and athletics for nearly 30 years. His passion for improved physical, emotional, mental and spiritual health has always been his main focus in mentoring student-athletes. | Arnini led the Humber Hawks to gold in the men’s and women’s events at the OCAA Championship. Both teams were victorious at the Seneca Invitational, while the women’s team also had first-place finishes at Fanshawe and St. Lawrence - Brockville. Arnini, who is the Strength & Conditioning Coach / High Performance Centre Coordinator at Humber, also coaches the Hawks Indoor Track team. | Wagner guided the Crandall Chargers men’s team to a bronze medal at the ACAA Championship. The team grew from four runners in 2014 to 11 this season. Wagner organized and participated in a fundraising run for the Chargers. In addition to training with the student-athletes, she also competed in the women’s race at the ACAA Championship |
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