John Armitage has been the head coach for the rowing team at Queen’s University since the team was established in 1977. In addition he was also one of two founding coaches of the Kingston Rowing Club in that same year. John has worked tirelessly to help athletes find opportunities and realize their potential in the sport. John has worked with hundreds of athletes and has mentored countless coaches. “John has been the staple of the Queen’s University Rowing program for a long time, he has shown an unwavering commitment to developing his performance athletes in the sport, he always maintains a patience and calmness that is almost contagious,” boasts one of John’s athletes.
John embodies a selfless commitment to his athletes, community and country, he receives essentially no compensation for his efforts, but is always around to help his athletes. In addition to coaching at a high level, John also runs a successfully company and has a family. John’s is not focused on medals or taking credit for the success of his athletes. His focus is on helping his athletes become the best they can be and will do anything he can to support them. To John, being a coach means being “a leader and mentor,” it is “a commitment to life long learning and improvement; a sense of fun; a positive role model in life and sport; an even temperament; a shoulder to cry on; an ear when in need.”
In 2009, 18 past and present Queen's and Kingston club rowers tried out for National teams, resulting in 7 athletes being awarded national cards, a great. All John would like to see from these, and all his athletes, is that they “strive to achieve to be the very best they can be as a competitor and a person.”
John’s hard work has not gone with out recognition and he has been garnered with several awards over the years. John is also a nominee in the Campbell’s Chunky Most Valuable Coach contest, if you would like to vote for John you can click here or visit www.chunkymvc.ca
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