Matt Wilkinson named Golden Hawks curling head coach

WATERLOO, Ont. (July 22, 2016) - The Wilfrid Laurier University Department of Athletics and Recreation is pleased to announce the hiring of Matt Wilkinson as the new head coach of the varsity curling program ahead of the 2016-17 season. 

Wilkinson joins the purple and gold from the Guelph Gryphons where last season he served as coach of their men's curling team.

"I am thrilled to be taking on this role," said Wilkinson on signing on with the Golden Hawks. "I'm looking forward to bringing my previous experience at both Brock and Guelph to the position and carrying on the tradition of excellence the Golden Hawks have enjoyed over the past decade."

"I am excited to welcome Matt to the Golden Hawk program and am looking forward to working with him," commented Interuniversity Sport Coordinator Ryan Lannan. "He brings passion and expertise, along with a vision of excellence for the curling program and our student-athletes. Matt is committed to student-athlete success in the classroom, on the ice and in the community. He is also well respected and well known in the curling community and will continue to build on the excellence program that exists here at Laurier. I am looking forward to seeing all the success that is to come for our program."

Wilkinson takes over the head coaching role from Glenn Paulley, who oversaw the varsity curling program this past season as well as coaching the men's varsity team. Last year, under his watch, Laurier's men's team won the CIS/Curling Canada Championship and both the men's and women's team captured the OUA Championship. Paulley, as well as women's varsity coach Jason Rice, decided to leave their coaching positions to focus on their professional lives.

"I would like to thank Glenn and Jason for their commitment, expertise and dedication they demonstrated during their time with the program," said Lannan of the outgoing coaches. "Glenn and Jason's commitment to the holistic development of the student-athlete has cultivated an exceptional program that is known around the country. Being able to coach teams to provincial and national championships has continued the long tradition of curling excellence at Laurier."

In Wilkinson, the Golden Hawks are getting an individual who has six years coaching experience in Ontario University Athletics (OUA) as well as three years of playing experience. Prior to spending last season with Guelph, Wilkinson also coached the Brock Badgers men's curling team for five years. During that time, he lead the team to a CIS Bronze medal at the 2012 national championship as well as winning an OUA Bronze medal in 2014 and qualifying for the national championship.

As a player at Brock, Wilkinson was a member of the 2006-07 OUA Championship team and reached the semifinals of the national championship in 2007-08.

Wilkinson's ties to the curling community also extend beyond the OUA as he has coached various junior teams in Ontario for the past nine years and is in his eighth year at the Chairperson for the Ontario Junior Curling Tour (OJCT).

Wilkinson begins his new role immediately and can be reached at curling@laurierathletics.com.

Source: Laurier Golden Hawks