March 1, 2017
Wheelchair Rugby Canada Announces Tokyo 2020 Coaching Team
Canadian Wheelchair Sports Association – (Ottawa, ON – Feb. 28) The Canadian Wheelchair Sports Association (CWSA) announced today that Patrick Côté has been hired as the new head coach of the Canadian wheelchair rugby national team. David Willsie, a three-time Paralympic Games medalist, will be joining the coaching staff as assistant coach.
“The combination of technical expertise and experience that Patrick and David bring to their coaching responsibilities will enable them to lead our team back onto the podium in 2020,” said CWSA CEO Catherine Cadieux.
Prior to taking over the head coaching role, Côté amassed over ten years’ of experience in various roles within wheelchair rugby. Patrick has held the role of Sport Coordinator for the Québec Wheelchair Sport Association, helping to promote and develop a number of wheelchair sports throughout Québec. He also worked as the Manager of Technical Programs for the CWSA during the London 2012 and Rio 2016 Paralympics, a position he held for six years before being appointed as interim head coach of the wheelchair rugby national team in November 2016.
Côté is held in high regard throughout the wheelchair rugby community. He has received wide acclaim for his technical understanding of wheelchair rugby, in addition to his development and use of data analytics solutions.
“I am very excited and thankful that CWSA puts their trust in me to be part of the program and lead the Canadian wheelchair rugby national team into the new quadrennial,” Patrick said. “I really look forward to the opportunity to work with such a great group of athletes, and to help them reach their full potential as individuals and collectively as a team.”
Willsie has had a long distinguished career in the sport of wheelchair rugby, one that has spanned over 19 years and has seen him earn numerous medals on the international stage. He joins the national coaching team, while continuing to hold the role of player-coach for the Ontario Thunder, winners of the last five national championships.
“I am excited to be working for such a class organization and to be able to bring my own unique style to the team” said David Willsie.
For more information or to schedule an interview, please contact:
Ben Parker-Jones
Communications and Marketing Coordinator
Canadian Wheelchair Sports Association
Tel : 613-523-0004
Email : ben@cwsa.ca
Communications and Marketing Coordinator
Canadian Wheelchair Sports Association
Tel : 613-523-0004
Email : ben@cwsa.ca