EDMONTON - The Canadian Athletics Coaching Centre (CACC) and the Faculty of Physical Education and Recreation at the University of Alberta are pleased to announce the appointment of Brian Kropman as the new Director of the Centre, commencing July 1, 2014.
The Canadian Athletics Coaching Centre (CACC) was established in 2003 as a legacy of the 8th IAAF World Championships in Athletics hosted in Edmonton in 2001 with the mandate to create a centre dedicated to participation and excellence in athletics through mentoring, training, education, competition and research for coaches and athletes at all levels of sport. The CACC looks for opportunities to develop and deliver programs in conjunction with Athletics Canada and its provincial associations.
Brian has been with the CACC since 2005 when he was hired as the Manager of Youth Development, where he worked in conjunction with Athletics Canada to develop and implement the Run, Jump, Throw program; a grassroots program designed to help children age 7 to 12 learn the basic fundamental skills of running, jumping and throwing. Since then, Brian has held the position of Associate Director of the CACC, where he was responsible for the development of website property, budgeting, marketing and communications, special projects and day to day operations of the Centre.
"My goal as Director of the CACC is to continue to build on the great athlete and coach development programs that have been established over the last number of years while continuing to advance our global reach through the CACC's world renowned website" said Brian Kropman.
Housed at Foote Field, South Campus University of Alberta, the Centre has 4 main focuses; Coaching Training/Education, Community Education/Run Jump Throw, Sport Science and Athletics Development.
CACC is actively involved in many events locally and across Canada, lending their organizational skills, event planning, athlete services, conference services and community outreach. Some of these events include; The Edmonton Internal Track Classic, the Little Big Run and the Golden Bear Open. Moving forward, CACC will have an active role in the following upcoming events; 2015 Pan Am Junior Athletics Championships, as well as 2015 and 2016 Canadian Track and Field Championships.
Kerry Mummery, Dean of the Faculty of Physical Education and Recreation says "we see the CACC as integral to overall system development in track and field. It covers coaching, athlete services and education. The CACC will produce athletes and, importantly, will produce the support systems - coaches and sport scientists - that will drive the system. I am very pleased to have Brian take the helm of the CACC and look forward to working with him over the coming years."
"I'm looking forward to working with our current and future partners to further develop our athletes (grassroots, varsity and high performance), our world class coaching education programs, integrating with the Faculty of Physical Education and Recreation on the Masters in Coaching program and other sport science initiatives" says Kropman
Learn more about the Canadian Athletics Coaching Centre at www.athleticscoaching.ca