OTTAWA, ON (May 8, 2017) — Canoe Kayak Canada is pleased to name three coaches to sprint National Team positions. Frédéric Jobin, Chad Brooks and Jan Kruk will play key roles in preparing our athletes for international success at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games and beyond.

“As the coaching structure begins to takes shape, I am pleased to have Fred, Chad and Jan on board. They each possess the leadership skills and the technical knowledge to move our team forward,” said Graham Barton, Chief Technical Officer of Canoe Kayak Canada. “I am confident that their contributions to our coaching team will see Canada reemerge as a World power in paddling as we move together to Tokyo and beyond, to 2024.”

Frédéric Jobin to coach Men’s Kayak

Frédéric Jobin has been named to head the Men’s Kayak National Team program. Most recently he coached the Men’s Kayak 200m group. Jobin has coached Mark de Jonge throughout his 200m career while he has won an Olympic bronze medal in 2012 and followed with a silver and two gold medals at the World Championships. Jobin was also Caroline Brunet’s coach between 2000 and 2004. During that time she earned Olympic silver and bronze medals and won five World Championship medals.

As the Men’s Kayak coach, Jobin will focus the new Olympic program which will include K1 200m, K1 1000m, K2 1000m and the new K4 distance of 500m.

“It will be a new challenge for me, and the athletes,” said Jobin. “Like when 200 metre events were added to the Olympic program, we had to adapt and push the limits. I feel extremely privileged to coach the entire Men’s Kayak group and together we will work hard to reach new heights.”

Jobin graduated from Laval University with a degree in Kinesiology. He continued on to complete a degree in Physiotherapy from the University of Montreal. Jobin started paddling at Lac Sergent in his youth before moving into coaching. He was the head coach of Lac Beauport Canoe Club From 1989 to 2008.

Chad Brooks to coach Women’s Kayak

Chad Brooks has been hired to coach Canoe Kayak Canada’s Women’s Kayak National Team program. Brooks has been a National Team Coach since 2013 where he has coached NextGen athletes and most recently has worked under the mentorship of National Men’s Kayak Coach, Frédéric Jobin.

Canoe Kayak Canada announced a partnership last October with the Canadian Sport Centre Atlantic (CSCA) and the Atlantic Division CanoeKayak Canada (ADCKC) to develop a world-leading training environment in Nova Scotia for the National Women’s Kayak program. Brooks’ hiring will be an integral piece in realizing this vision. The Women’s Kayak program has been building momentum since going through a rebuilding period. The team earned four Women’s Kayak athlete quota spots for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games and posted a top result of eighth place in the K4 500m.

“When I look at the talent that exists within Women’s Kayak in Canada, I have no doubt we can compete with the best the world has to offer,” said Brooks. “I’m excited to be part of fostering a program that these athletes and all Canadians can be proud to call their own.”

Brooks is in the process of completing his Advanced Coaching Diploma and is a NCCP competition-certified coach. Brooks started out paddling with his family at Orenda Canoe Club where he captured several national titles and his national best time in the Midget K1 6000m from 1996 stood for well over a decade. He was the head coach at Maskwa Aquatic Club for seven years before starting with the National Team.

Jan Kruk to coach Women’s Canoe

Jan Kruk has been selected to coach the Women’s Canoe National program as the discipline is slated to make its debut at the 2020 Olympic Games, subject to approval of the International Olympic Committee. Kruk was hired by Canoe Kayak Canada in 2014 to coach the NextGen Training Group for Atlantic Canada where he focused on supporting potential performers at the 2020 and 2024 Olympic Games. This will be natural transition for Kruk as he works to develop and lead the Women’s Canoe Program into Tokyo.

“Canada has been a world leader in Women’s Canoe and was instrumental in having the women’s canoe events added to the Olympic program,” said Kruk. “I look forward to working with the dedicated athletes within our system as we set our sights on Tokyo 2020.”

Kruk was a decorated national canoe team athlete for Poland. He has coached for many years in the club system in Canada, with much of his time being spent at Banook Canoe Club. He was also a personal coach of Tom Hall when he won the 1999 Junior World Championships. He also worked with Olympian Jason McCoombs. He is currently coaching Katie Vincent He also worked with Olympian Jason McCoombs and is currently coaching Katie Vincent — Junior & U23 World Champion who set a World Record in the Women’s C1 200 this past summer.

Men’s Canoe Coach still to be determined

Canoe Kayak Canada has restructured its coaching staff to align with the new Olympic program, recommendations of an internal High Performance review and available resources. This restructuring created a new vision that places an emphasis on finding strong leaders, in addition to technically skilled candidates to fill each of these positions. The goal is to build a coaching staff focused on building team success for Tokyo and beyond.

The hiring process for the Men’s Canoe Coach has been extended. While this position is still open, Mark Granger, a current staff member will oversee the Men’s Canoe Program through the balance of the competitive season. Granger is an experienced National Coach with an excellent track record of leadership and performance. He is currently working with our Junior Program.