In Grade 8, I joined the Saskatoon Track Club and began working with Coach Todd Johnston, who guided me for the next decade. During that time, I earned nine national medals across Legion U16, U18, U20, and CIS (now U Sports) competitions with the Huskies, highlighted by a 4×400 m bronze medal in 2004 and a team title in 2005. I also discovered a passion for coaching—initially to offset club fees, but quickly because I found it fun and rewarding—beginning with twice-weekly sessions in the club’s youth programming.

Through the former NCCP system, I started coach education at a young age, completing Theory 1 at 18, Theory 2 at 20, and Theory 3 at 21 through multi-sport courses offered by the Coaching Association of Saskatchewan. Often the youngest participant in the room, I did not fully appreciate the value of those experiences at the time, but I am grateful I began the process early.

I graduated from the College of Kinesiology at the University of Saskatchewan in 2006 and became fully certified in Sprints and Hurdles in 2008. Along the way, I coached in a variety of junior development settings—including Run Jump Throw, provincial U16 and U18 teams, Sask Summer Games teams, and high school and club athletes—before moving into the university ranks in 2007.

Shortly after, I took a brief break from coaching in 2007–2008 to teach English in Korea for a year. I returned as Head Coach of the Saskatoon Track and Field Club, where I gained valuable experience, but my desire to explore the world remained. From 2009 to 2012, I returned to Korea to teach again—an experience that ultimately helped launch the next phase of my coaching career.

I was then hired in New Brunswick as Head Coach of the UNB Varsity Reds, while also serving as High-Performance Coach for Athletics New Brunswick and coaching with the Saint John Track Club. I also worked with the Canadian Sport Centre Atlantic and had the opportunity to support an athlete in the Canadian Rugby program. For the next five years, I simply put my head down and grinded.

During that time, I completed my Competition Development certification (now Performance Coach) in Endurance, received training in jumps, earned a Graduate Certificate in High Performance Coaching and Technical Leadership from the University of British Columbia, and completed my IAAF World Athletics Level 5 Coaches Diploma in Sprints and Hurdles. Most importantly, I learned from outstanding athletes, including 2024 Olympian Craig Thorne in the 110m hurdles, and from an exceptional mentor, Bill MacMackin. I was also incredibly fortunate during this period to meet my future wife, Rebecca.