David Hopton of the Mohawk Mountaineers is the 2023 Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) Cross-Country Running Coach of the Year.

Hopton was honoured at the 2023 CCAA Cross-Country Running National Championships, hosted by Dalhousie Agricultural Campus.

Under Hopton’s leadership, Mohawk realized year-over-year improvements from both its individual runners and as a collective on the men’s and women’s teams. For the first time in 35 years, the Mountaineers earned two medals at the OCAA championships, with the men finishing atop the podium and the women capturing the bronze. 

“David’s commitment to Mohawk’s cross-country teams and athletes has been a noticeable factor in the program’s quick turnaround,” said Matthew Ferreira, Mohawk Director of Athletics and Recreation. “In three years under his guidance, David has brought an understanding and attention to detail for each athlete’s needs that has led to individual and team success.”

Despite some key injuries on the women’s squad, the Mountaineers maintained their team position in the OCAA and had four runners finish in the Top-20. The men meanwhile made significant strides this season, after finishing in fifth place in the conference in 2022. They not only captured OCAA team gold but had three runners in the Top 10 versus none the previous year.

“David Hopton is passionate about the sport of cross-country running and has turned the Mohawk running program into a force in Ontario and the country”, said Darcy Brioux, CCAA Cross-Country Running Convenor.  “In addition to his technical skills, David also demonstrates great sportsmanship and a positive energy with his team and fellow coaches.”

Hopton aims to maintain a sense of fun and balance for his athletes which includes a focus on technique and skill development while also improving endurance and efficiency. He designs individualized training programs for each athlete that involves running, but also swimming and biking. Hopton also assists the athletes in developing a nutrition plan and mapping out what their day-to-day nutrition needs are to be the best runner they can be.

Aside from his role at Mohak, Hopton is a high-performance coach with the regional Hammerheads and Koalas triathlon club teams. Four of his athletes won gold at the 2023 Triathlon Ontario's Draft Legal Elite Provincial Championships and he was selected as the Triathlon Ontario Coach of the Year.

The CCAA Cross-Country Running Coach of the Year recipient receives a customized ring provided by Jostens Canada, the Official Ring Supplier of CCAA Championships.

Other nominees for the CCAA Cross-Country Running Coach of the Year award were Doug Spicer of the Red Deer Polytechnic Kings & Queens (Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference), Vincent Filion of the Élans de Garneau (Réseau du sport étudiant du Québec) and Brandon LeBlanc of the Crandall Chargers (Atlantic Collegiate Athletic Association).

Doug Spicer

Vincent Filion

Brandon LeBlanc