Canadian Sport Institute Pacific – UVic, Canadian Sport Institute Pacific partner on creation of Strength & Conditioning coach position

By Ali Baggott, Vikes Communications

[ONLINE STORY]

Jan 9 VICTORIA – Collaboration is a key component of organizations that are striving to find support for success in sport and the University of Victoria and the Canadian Sport Institute Pacific (CSI Pacific) are no strangers to finding ways to align. Vikes Athletics and Recreation, UVic’s Exercise Science, Physical & Health Education (EPHE) and the Canadian Sport Institute Pacific are pleased to announce a strategic partnership that culminates in the creation and hiring of a senior strength and conditioning coach.

UVic and CSI are pleased to announce Dr. Nick Clarke has been hired for the position that begins immediately in January. The hiring of this position involved targeting a candidate with a PhD, minimum of nine years of experience as part of an integrated sports team in elite sport along with extensive experience in strength and conditioning service. Dr. Clarke had been working at CSI Pacific as lead sport scientist and physiologist for Rowing Canada prior to taking on this new position.

“We are very pleased to be part of this high performance sport partnership,” said Clint Hamilton, Director of Vikes Athletics and Recreation. “Partnering with CSI, leaders in performance sport, and our on campus sport research and teaching colleagues at EPHE, with the goal of driving new levels of athletic performance is extremely important in allowing us to further our tradition of sport success. This is an important, tangible partnership that will lead to more collaboration and synergies for all of us.”

Together, UVic and CSI Pacific share a vision of achieving more success for athletes at the U SPORTS, Olympic and Paralympic levels. The opportunities ahead include bringing together fresh and creative minds to contribute and develop innovation and applied sport science skills. The partnership also engages the academic community, through EPHE, to align the priorities of UVic with CSI Pacific’s world-class performance services team for the benefit of Olympic, Paralympic, Next Gen and varsity athlete development.

“We are extremely pleased to be entering into this new phase of our partnership with UVic,” said Wendy Pattenden, Chief Executive Officer at Canadian Sport Institute Pacific. “Having a world class sport scientist like Dr. Clarke sharing his knowledge between our two organizations will strengthen both of us, and lead to even better results from the athletes we both work with.”

Dr. Clarke will split time between CSI Pacific and UVic, working in multiple facets to: support strength and conditioning for targeted UVic varsity programs; provide mentorship opportunities for graduate students; collaborate with varsity coaches on strength and conditioning related sport services; connect with EPHE students and faculty on related curriculums; engage in teaching opportunities at the graduate or undergraduate level; and provide senior leadership for the strength and conditioning discipline at CSI Pacific.

In addition to the portfolios specific to the Vikes, EPHE and CSI Pacific, this role will also be tasked with supporting National Sport Organization partnerships to deliver strength and conditioning services to NextGen athletes.

“EPHE is excited to continue to work with CSI Pacific and the Vikes,” said John Meldrum, Director of UVic’s Exercise Science, Physical & Health Education. “We see this position as an opportunity to not only gain some world class strength and conditioning expertise to work with our students but also the chance to generate further opportunities for applied research. This is another step to deepening our ongoing connection to the development of sport and physical activity in the region.”

The technical leadership from the CSI Pacific’s performance services experts will help build a stronger support network for UVic varsity athletes and coaches, while enhancing the existing high performance culture. The academic involvement of EPHE will also protect the depth of support in the strength and conditioning area through education and mentorship of the future strength and conditioning professionals.

UVic and CSI Pacific have worked together on joint initiatives for many years with the goal of further high performance sport throughout British Columbia and across Canada. It is without doubt that the strength of that relationship will only continue to grow through collaborations such as this.

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About Canadian Sport Institute Pacific: Powering Performance. Inspiring Excellence.

Offering world-class Olympic and Paralympic training environments in Vancouver, Whistler and Victoria, Canadian Sport Institute Pacific (www.csipacific.ca) is committed to Powering Performance. Inspiring Excellence. 

Working with national sport organizations and fuelled by our national and provincial partners such as Sport Canada, viaSport, Own the Podium, Canadian Olympic Committee, Canadian Paralympic Committee and the Coaches Association of Canada, we are driven by our mantra to Collaborate. Serve. Innovate. 

Our team of sport science, sport medicine, coaching & life services experts provide leading-edge programs and services to athletes and coaches to ensure they have every advantage to win medals for Canada.

Media Contacts:

Ali Baggott

Communications Officer, Vikes Athletics and Recreation

University of Victoria

t. 250.721.8410

c. 250.418.5633

3. vicvikes@uvic.ca

Noah Wheelock

Manager, Communications

Canadian Sport Institute Pacific

t. 250.220.2534

c. 250.813.3474

e. nwheelock@csipacific.ca