McCannel set to take over Cougar track & field
Apr. 18, 2009 - Regina Leader-Post
By Tim Switzer
It has only been four years since Bruce McCannel graduated from the University of Regina Cougars track and field program.
Now he is taking it over.
On Friday, McCannel was named the Cougars' interim head coach while Carla Nicholls takes a one-year leave of absence to become the national event group coach for jumps, combined events and hurdles with Athletics Canada. Nicholls held the same position with Team Canada at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
McCannel inherits track and field teams that finished second (women's) and third (men's) at the Canada West championships last season as well as a men's cross country program that cracked the CIS Top 10 for the first time ever in 2008.
"It definitely does (put pressure on), but I don't think anybody involved with the team expects me to be Carla this season because she is more experienced than me," said McCannel, who has worked with the Cougars jumpers for the last three seasons. "But she has put me in a position to succeed with the team she has built."
Though his coaching resume is not a long one, McCannel brings a wealth of experience to the Cougars. During five seasons as an athlete at the U of R, McCannel won nine Canada West and four CIS medals competing in the long and triple jumps.
And while he is just 28, he doesn't believe his age will hinder him in working with athletes just a few years his junior.
"I actually think it's an asset because I can relate to some of the people on the team and I'm not too far removed from some of the pressures they see in their day-to-day university life," said McCannel.
McCannel has taken a leave from his job as a policy analyst with Saskatchewan Finance and his wife, Shari, will continue to run the couple's nutrition-planning business, Nutrition Now.
McCannel worked closely with Nicholls last season and has already been involved in the recruiting process so he has some of the basics down. While he will take on the added responsibility of working with multi-events athletes, McCannel doesn't expect that will be the most difficult part of the job. So what will be?
"Losing Carla as a coach," said McCannel. "She had a large group of athletes and she's a fantastic coach. She wants to stay involved a little bit, but really we'll have to take over coaching and find out where a lot of the athletes fit in."
There is no word on whether Nicholls' position with Athletics Canada could turn into a long-term post. She was out of the province Friday and could not be reached for comment.