Squash Canada Enlists Martin Heath As New High Performance Director

Squash Canada (SC) is thrilled to announce the appointment of global squash performance leader, Martin Heath, to its newly defined High Performance Director position.

 

Health will take on the responsibility for the design, development, planning, and performance management of all Canadian Team programs and initiatives to drive sustained performance excellence at the international level.

 

With the conclusion of the recent Commonwealth Games, Heath has left Scottish Squash as their Elite Performance Director to take on his new role with SC.  He had led Scotland to a World Doubles crown and a European Team Championship medal.

 

For the past 13 years Heath has been Head Coach at the University of Rochester, a position he will retain.  That role provides flexibility to be able to fulfill commitments across the border, spend significant periods of time in Toronto, other parts of the country and to lead Canadian teams into major international competitions.

 

At the University of Rochester, he took the Yellowjackets from a US College Squash Association ranking of #28 to #4 in four years, the fastest rise in the 90-year history of the CSA.  They have remained a powerhouse since, including a #1 rank and national championship finalist.

 

He has coached 33 All-Americans, was Liberty League Coach of the Year seven times.  He also served as Head Coach for US Squash’s Junior Men’s and U23 National Teams, leading them to four World Championships.  In 2010, he was named National Squash Coach of the Year by the US Olympic Committee.

 

Heath was one of the world’s top players, joining the Professional Squash Association World Tour in 1993.  There, he spent six consecutive years in the World’s top 10 ranking, reaching a high of #4.  He holds many titles and podium placements, including World Doubles Championships, European Championships and was a six-time Scottish champion.

 

"I am delighted and extremely honored to take on the role of High Performance Director at Squash Canada”, said Heath. “Canada has a history of producing some of the best squash players in the world, and while there is some current significant success for the Canadian women and men, I am excited to help push the program and the players to the next level. I have very close ties to Canada and regularly competed and trained with some of the greatest squash players Canada has produced while I was a pro. Nothing would please me more than to see Canada compete at the very highest level again and compete for the major titles."

 

Heath graduated from the University of Glasgow with a Bachelor of Science in Physiology and Sports Science and completed an MBA from the University of Rochester.

 

“This is an amazing coup for Squash Canada”, said Executive Director Dan Wolfenden. “Martin brings extensive knowledge and experience at the highest level, and his track record of taking programs to higher levels is indeed impressive.  He is such a system and relationship builder, who communicates so well at every level.  We are ecstatic to be able to bring him to our program, to benefit athletes and the coaches around them.”

 

He commences his duties on May 1, beginning with his attendance at the Canadian Squash Championships in Calgary May 1st through 5th, where he will connect with high performance athletes and coaches, most of whom are well familiar with him.

This completes the hat trick of recent appointments to fill Squash Canada’s new performance team to lead and deliver high performance and junior development programming.

 

Heath is joined by Graeme Williams as Athlete Pathway Manager (APM) and Kyle Ogilvy as Program Coordinator to round out the new Performance Leadership team.

 

Graeme Williams – since moving to Canada in 2012, Williams has become a well-known fixture in the Canadian Squash scene.  Having served as Squash Canada’s Women’s National Coach since 2014, his leadership, passion and technical knowledge are key assets that will shape and define the APM role. Although his work with Canada’s high-performance athletes has been his focus with Squash Canada in recent years, a great deal of his 20-year coaching career has been focused on junior player development. His time as a squash professional in clubs in both Canada and England has allowed Williams to understand the path a squash player must take over his/her playing career, especially when aiming towards high-level competitive play domestically and internationally.

 

As APM, Williams is responsible for the planning, management, and execution of athlete pathway and junior development programming.  The role is on a part-time basis while he maintains his primary position at Windsor Squash & Fitness Club.

 

 

Kyle Ogilvy – like Williams, Ogilvy is an active member of the Canadian squash community.  As a junior, he competed locally in Ottawa as well as nationally and internationally.  He played varsity squash in the United States, including earning Liberty League freshman of the year honours.  After graduating from Saint Lawrence University, Ogilvy returned to Ottawa and began teaching introductory squash programs with the City of Ottawa, as well as coaching several local elite junior squash players. 

 

In his role as Program Coordinator, Ogilvy provides technical and coordinative services to Heath and Williams, and to Canadian teams travelling to camps and international competitions. He will also provide support to Squash Canada’s new software system for Canadian Rankings, membership and tournament management.

 

“Creating this multi-talented leadership team is an exciting move for Squash Canada,” said Wolfenden. “We are facing an exciting time of growth and opportunity, and that comes with a need to add technical expertise and support to propel Canadian squash.”

 

Ogilvy is based out of the SC national office in Ottawa and can be contacted by email at kyle.ogilvy@squash.ca or phone at 613-228-7724 ext. 203.  Williams can be contacted by email at graeme.williams@squash.ca. 

Founded in 1915, Squash Canada is a non-profit, national sport governing body responsible for the development of athletes, coaches and officials and sets the standards for Canadian squash. Squash Canada is a proud member of the Pan-American and World Squash Federations and participates in the Pan-American Championships, Commonwealth & Pan-Am Games as well as World Championships at the junior and senior level. Each year Squash Canada hosts nine national championships across the country and works with its provincial and territorial partners to promote the growth and development of squash across the country.  For more information, visit www.squash.ca.  Join the conversation, get social with squash – follow Squash Canada on Facebook and Twitter.