Pat Côté to step down as head coach of Canadian national wheelchair rugby team

OTTAWA (Wheelchair Rugby Canada) – Wheelchair Rugby Canada announced Monday that Pat Côté is stepping down as head coach of the Canadian national wheelchair rugby team, with his final day being November 10, 2024.

Côté concludes his term following the team’s upcoming competition in Alabama.

“I have had the privilege of working with many talented athletes and staff throughout my time with Wheelchair Rugby Canada,’’ said Côté. ‘’It has been an honour to represent Canada on the international stage, and I am proud of what we have accomplished together.

“’As I move on to the next chapter of my career, I look forward to seeing the continued growth and success of the program.”

Côté has been with Wheelchair Rugby Canada since October 2008, starting as team manager before advancing to technical programs manager and later being named head coach in November 2016.

During his time as head coach, Côté led the team to several significant achievements, including silver medals at both the 2023 International Wheelchair Rugby Cup and the 2023 Parapan American Games in Santiago. He also guided the team through two Paralympic Games, Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024.

Originally a basketball player and coach, Côté entered the Para sport world in 2006 through the l’Association Québécois de sports en fauteuil roulant. His extensive background in coaching and development has been instrumental in building the national wheelchair rugby program and leading Canada to success on the world stage.

Paul Hunter, CEO of Wheelchair Rugby Canada, praised Côté for his leadership and contributions:  

“Since joining the organization in January 2023, I have greatly enjoyed working with Pat,” he said. ‘’His leadership and dedication have left a lasting impact on our national program, and we are grateful for his efforts in positioning our team for future success.

‘’On behalf of Wheelchair Rugby Canada, I wish Pat all the best in his next chapter and thank him for leaving the team in such a strong position.”

Wheelchair Rugby Canada will begin the search for a new head coach in the coming weeks, with more details to follow.