Contact Us

OFFICE LOCATION & MAILING ADDRESS

875 Morningside Ave, Suite 100
Scarborough, ON, M1C 0C7

Main Office – 416-426-7086
Fax: 416-426-7331

info@coachesontario.ca


CAO Staff

Please address specific questions to the appropriate staff member:

Jeremy Cross
Executive Director
416-426-7056
jeremy@coachesontario.ca

Jeremy is the current Executive Director of the CAO and has been with the organization since 2006. Jeremy is currently coaching U12 Learn to Train stage athletes at Toronto Lords Basketball. Jeremy graduated from the University of Waterloo with a BA in Recreation after spending 5 years of road trips working in various sports positions while at school. Before joining the CAO, Jeremy interned with the Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment corporation, the University of Waterloo Athletics, and the Orlando Magic in the Community and Government Relations Department. Formally one of the Canadian Senior Men’s National Basketball team managers and was in that role from 2006-2016. Jeremy by nature is a point guard. He loves to get others involved, to set people up for success, strategize and execute the game plan. For Jeremy, wins are good too, but having fun at what you’re doing is more important.

Contact Jeremy if you want to coach, are a coach, need a coach, but ultimately want to see athletes be the best people they can be.

Mercedes Watson
Director
416-426-7139
mercedes@coachesontario.ca

Mercedes is both an ice hockey and strength and conditioning coach, who received her Masters of Kinesiology from the University of British Columbia. A lover of all sports, Mercedes believes strongly in the importance of coach education and is dedicated to helping other coaches improve their skills and capabilities. Her previous work experience involves coordinating camps for the City of Ottawa and teaching at UBC and Brentwood College School. When not in the office, expect to find Mercedes skating or rock climbing.

Contact Mercedes for inquiries related to Parasport, Concussion Education, and Coach Developers.

Sports: Ice Hockey, Ball Hockey, Golf, Ringette, Speed Skating, Curling, Rugby, Football, Lacrosse, Broomball, Luge, Nordic Combined

Stuart McLaren
Senior Lead, Innovation & Program Development
416-426-7001
stuart@coachesontario.ca

Stuart is a certified sailing instructor and coach, with a diverse background in an amateur sport that includes soccer, baseball and hockey. He also holds a black belt in IMGKA Karate. Stuart previously worked as a program coordinator for Sail Manitoba, a role that took him across the country, supporting the provincial sailing team at the Canada Summer Games. Stuart often takes on leadership roles in facilitating amateur sports events and programs; he has sat as a race director and board member for many provincial and national events. Stuart is extremely passionate about amateur sport and its potential to build community and personal growth. Stuart holds a BA in Conflict Resolution from the University of Winnipeg and is a practicing mediator. He loves meeting new people, getting involved in communities and being out on the water.

Contact Stuart if you would like information about the National Coaching Certification Program (NCCP), the Canada Games Apprenticeship Program or would like to Host an NCCP course in Eastern Ontario.

Sports: Sailing, Rowing, Water Ski and Wakeboard, Canoe/Kayak, Soccer, 5 Pin Bowling, 10 Pin Bowling, Archery, Shooting, Fencing, 10 Pin Bowling, Biathlon, Cross Country Ski

Eric McLoughlin
Senior Lead, Events & Partner Development
416-426-7005
ericm@coachesontario.ca

Eric comes to the CAO with a wealth of knowledge and experience in coaching, community engagement and events within the sport, non-profit and corporate sectors. With a BA in Psychology and a background in Sport Psychology from Laurentian University, Eric has coached swimming for over nine years working with athletes from ages four to eighteen at the regional, provincial and national levels. He also holds a post-graduate Event Management certificate from the International Festival and Events Society’s (IFEA) Gold Pinnacle award-winning program at Niagara College and works hard to develop events, programs and projects that create lasting positive impressions. In his spare time, he loves to swim, play baseball and connect with people who share a passion for what they love. Eric believes in staying positive, eating smart and dreaming big.

Contact Eric if you want information about CAO Events, the Ontario Coaches Conference, Sponsorship and Partnership opportunities.

Sports: Swimming, Baseball, Basketball, Diving, Artistic Swimming, Water Polo, Judo, Grappling, Jiu-Jitsu, Wrestling, Orienteering, Parachuting

Eric Belahov
Senior Lead, Community Education Partnerships
416-426-7023
eric@coachesontario.ca

Eric was a competitive high-performance tennis player that turned coach. Eric received his Sport Management degree from Brock University and a post-graduate sport and event marketing certificate from George Brown College which speaks about his love for the business side of sports. He believes strongly in coach development and how coaches impact their community. Eric has volunteered and participated at many international events and he has seen the impact that these have on the host community. He loves playing all sports and travelling the world.

Contact Eric if you have any questions on Coach Bursary, CAO Partnerships and Coach 2 Coach Para Mentorship program.

Sports: Tennis, Table Tennis, Squash, Badminton, Cricket, Ontario Blind Sports, Ontario Cerebral Palsy Sports, Wheelchair Sports, Special Olympics, Raquetball, Field Hockey, Volleyball

Sarah Kelly
Community Programs & Partnerships Lead
416-426-7064
sarah@coachesontario.ca

Sarah is the CAO’s Community Programs & Partnerships Lead and is passionate about team sports and promoting physical literacy. After completing her Psychology degree at Wilfrid Laurier University, Sarah attended George Brown College where she received her Sport & Event Marketing Post-Graduate Certificate, bringing together her enthusiasm for connecting and understanding others with her desire to help Canadians of all ages live more active lifestyles. Sarah is always keen to try new sports, and in her spare time you’ll likely find her at the gym, rock climbing, curling, playing rec-league softball and ultimate or just cheering on her favourite team!

Contact Sarah for any questions about Coach 2 Coach mentorship programs, Partnership opportunities or GTA Competition Introduction NCCP courses

Sports: Equestrian, Alpine Ski, Boxing, Softball, Skating, Lawn Bowls, Ultimate, Team Handball, Freestyle Ski, Snowboard

Brooke Leonardo
Senior Lead, Communications
416-426-7427
brooke@coachesontario.ca

Brooke is the CAO’s Communications Lead and is passionate about endurance sport and personal fitness. Brooke’s educational background combines her English Literature degree from U of T with a sport and event marketing post-graduate certificate from George Brown College, which speaks to her love of creative writing and communications along with sharing the sport and physical activity with those around her. In her spare time, Brooke has completed numerous road and trail races up to the marathon and ultra-marathon distances, along with several half ironman triathlons and two Tough Mudders. She also loves lifting weights at the gym and is a Crossfit enthusiast.

Contact Brooke for any questions about CAO programming, Website Communications, Coach 2 Coach, Home Study or Coach education inquiries.

Sports: Athletics, Cycling, Weightlifting, Karate, Taekwondo, Muay Thai, Kickboxing, Gymnastics, Wushu, Triathlon, Bobsleigh, Skeleton

Megan Sherwin

Coach Education Program Assistant
416-426-7086
megans@coachesontario.ca

Megan is the CAO’s Coach Education Program Assistant. She received her Recreation and Sports Business undergraduate degree from the University of Waterloo. Megan was a competitive swimmer for 15 years competing at the provincial, national and international level. She has a passion for sports and is excited to share it with the next generation of coaches. In her spare time, you can find Megan trying new sports, travelling, and going for lots of walks and hikes.