For 18 years, the Ontario Coaching Excellence Awards program celebrates the dedication and commitment of exemplary individuals who inspire, innovate and share knowledge of sport with others.
The Awards recognize the importance of leadership, performance and the value of human insight which are all integral to great coaching. Coaches were recognized across Ontario at the 2024 Ontario Coaching Excellence Awards celebration on September 14.
The event marked the start of the special 10th annual National Coaches Week, a celebration of the tremendous positive impact coaches have on this nation’s athletes and communities. The week is an opportunity to recognize coaches for the integral role they play by simply saying #ThanksCoach.
To celebrate National Coaches Week (September 16-22), representatives from OFSAA, the Coaches Association of Ontario (CAO), Ministry of Sport and Hydro One were on hand to present the province’s most prestigious coaching honour, an Ontario Coaching Excellence Award.
The OFSAA School Sport Coach Award winners were selected by OFSAA based on their unique contribution to sport through continuous development. The Award does not reflect the accomplishments of a teacher-coach in any one year, but the contributions over a period of years.
The 2024 male recipient of the “Coaching Excellence Award” in the School Sport Category is Roger Slomke of St. Patrick High School in Thunder Bay, ON. (NWOSSAA)
The 2024 female recipient of the “Coaching Excellence Award” in the School Sport Category is Kathryn Carlone of Assumption Catholic Secondary School in Burlington, ON. (GHAC)
Whether it is winning OFSAA championships or a student improving their grades, Roger and Kathryn are advocates for sport as more than just a team, but as a family.
“We are excited to honour coach Roger and Kathryn for their steadfast commitment and support in developing athletes both on and off the field. The bonds formed through sports play a crucial role in strengthening our communities, and coaches like Roger and Kathryn are instrumental in creating those safe, enjoyable, and nurturing environments for youth to thrive,” said Jeremy Cross, Executive Director of CAO.
About the Coaches Association of Ontario (CAO)
The Coaches Association of Ontario is an independent, non-profit organization that supports coaches from community to high performance across all sports in Ontario. For more information, please visit www.coachesontario.ca, follow on Facebook or X.
