Coach Service History

This page was developed to highlight and recognize those long standing coaches who have dedicated their life to student-athletes. The list below includes retired individuals who have coached school sports for 25+ years.

2021-22 Retirees:

Bruce Kuklinski
Bruce Kuklinski, after completing his teaching qualifications in New Zealand, moved to Canada in 1987 to complete his Sports Psychology Masters degree at UVic. He then joined the staff at SMUS in 1990 and began teaching PE in the Senior School while also coaching soccer, tennis, and rugby. Over the next decade, his focus as 1st XV coach (1994 through 2002) saw his teams tour four times to the United Kingdom while also winning a BC provincial championship in 1997. Though transferring to the SMUS Middle School in 2005, Bruce’s love and passion for teaching and the game of rugby remained without equal. Hundreds of his students fell in love with sport. Some duly went on to exceptional Canadian national team rugby careers. Likewise, his positive impact at the local level resulted in the formation of the Kuklinski Cup – a trophy awarded annually to the top grade 8 rugby school in the city. In addition, his work as commissioner for rugby ensured successful, well organized Middle School seasons year after year. Bruce’s students also benefited hugely from life lessons in character, humility, preparation, and sportsmanship. Finally, his raw talent and meticulous approach were equally obvious when it came to refereeing. This second career, as an international rugby official from 1995 through 2007, saw him take charge of eleven 15 aside full internationals and 13 international 7s tournaments, including the 2002 Commonwealth Games. For the past twelve years, while continuing to mentor numerous aspiring young referees across the province, he has been an international Citing Commissioner, with appointments to World Cups and the 2016 Rio Olympics. He looks forward to working in that role in the next few weeks with games in Chile and Argentina. Bruce, you will be missed by the staff and students at SMUS. Thank you for 33 wonderful years!

Rocky Vitale
Rocky began his teaching and coaching career at Lambrick Park in 1986, a career spanning an incredible 36 years. Throughout his almost four decades as a coach at Lambrick Park, Rocky was a pillar and icon within the athletics, and especially basketball, community within Victoria and our province. During his extensive coaching career, Rocky has become one of the most successful High School basketball coaches our province has ever seen. Rocky has won an astonishing 20 Vancouver Island titles across all levels of basketball ( A,AA,AAA), and has gone on to when an impressive 6 BC High School Girls Basketball Championships (87,88,89,90,91,07). Throughout his time Rocky has developed thousands of athletes in the game of basketball, with 4 moving on to play Division 1 basketball in the NCAA and 15 players moving on to play University basketball here in Canada. From 1986 to 2017 Rocky coached in 1,036 High school basketball games, amassing an incredible record of 726 wins and 310 losses. Towards the end of his career Rocky’s focus has turned to baseball. Over the past decade, Rocky has built one of the most prestigious and successful baseball/ softball academies in Canada. This academy has seen hundreds of players move on to post-secondary and professional baseball. Special people like Rocky, who have dedicated their life to coaching kids, do not come along very often. The high school coaching world in BC and our city is losing a true champion of high school sport. It is hard to imagine life without Rocky Vitale at LP.

Gord Redlin
Gord has been a coach and an administrator in the Saanich School District for 37 years.  He has been the president of all three Greater Victoria school sports associations (LVISSAA, GVJSSAA and LIMSSA) and is one of the founders of the high school rowing league. Before getting involved with rowing Gord coached soccer, tennis and golf. Two students, Julie Jesperson and Kate Gower asked Gord to be their teacher sponsor for rowing.  Having never been in a boat he went out for a row and was hooked.  His Parkland crews won numerous national titles and he coached Team BC at the Western Canada Summer Games. He also became the assistant coach of the UVIC women’s program from 1990-1994 and won Rowing Canada’s Coach of the year in 1993- pretty amazing for someone who was never a rower.  This shows the level of dedication that Gord gives to everything he does. Gord is also an accomplished athlete though, having won a national lacrosse championship, provincial soccer championship and still plays hockey with the Esquimalt Hustlers. Gord gets the best out of his athletes knowing when to push them harder, when to laugh and have fun, teaching them not to sweat the small stuff and when to dig their heels in.

Jerry Carter
Jerry has been a part of Oak Bay’s Golf team for 29 years. As an avid golfer himself, Jerry won the Tri-district Teacher Golf tournament that ended in 2008 a record 6 times. He also won the senior club championship at Cordova Bay in 2013 and 2013.  He has helped Oak Bay have many successes on the golf course throughout his tenure. His teams consistently performed at a high level that reflected his quiet, focused and driven nature, culminating in a Provincial Championship in 2000, followed by a Bronze in 2001 and two silver finishes in 2002 and 2005.  Jerry was extremely committed to the golf program and was a tireless volunteer coach for almost 3 decades. He loved the comradery of being involved in the athletic program and socializing with coaches at year end events, especially this coaches banquet.  He has left a big hole to fill and we really appreciate and thank him for the incredible efforts to the team and program over the years! We miss you Jerry!  We wish you the happiness of retirements and congratulations on an incredible career of coaching!

2020-21 Retirees:

Kelly Rimmer 
Kelly Rimmer has been investing in athletes’ lives for 33 years, in the community as well as in the Victoria school district.  Her leadership and dedication to coaching has equaled thousands of hours on the volleyball and basketball court, track and field, the soccer pitch and on the ball field, always treating children, coaches and referees with patience and respect.  One of her favourite memories of coaching is when she was at Hampton school and ran a select co-ed team that would take part in weekend tournaments at Macaulay and McKenzie school.  She then also became a sponsor coach at Colquitz Jr. High, travelling up and down the island for many tournaments.  Her mantra has always been that, “Kids have to be learning something, and they have to be having fun.”  It has always been exciting for Kelly to coach excited grade 6 students, new to Middle School, who know nothing and end up improving so much.  Kelly is proud to say that she has worked with amazing coaches and has learned so much from watching them.   Leading by example through her exceptional commitment and responsibility, her shoes are going to be hard to fill at Colquitz, where she has run a successful program for over a decade.  It’s late, Kelly.  Time to go home. 

Rob Parker
Rob has contributed so much to our community as a teacher and administrator, throughout his career.  Having seen Rob in action during his time at Arbutus, one area where his contributions really stood out, was athletics.  It’s safe to say that over his career, Rob has had the chance to coach or directly support every sport our schools offer at one time or another.  Making sure that his students had a chance to play for their school has always been something Rob was willing to give up his own time for.  For the many, many students that have benefitted from his time, Rob’s willingness to step up for school sports has undoubtedly made a positive lasting impact on their lives. Rob is a passionate coach and is always willing to step up to make sure students have a chance to play for their school.  Spending time with Rob-as-coach, you see right away that his first priority is for kids to feel comfortable participating – regardless of skill level or other challenges they may be facing in their lives.  You just have to take a quick look around Rob’s office to see the heartfelt notes from students who really valued Rob’s time as their coach and mentor.

Tom Turnbull
Tom started coaching school sports in 1983 at Central, then onto Stelly’s and Mt. Newton for 1984 and 1985. He spent 1985-1990 as a teacher-coach in Torrance, California. From 1990-1994, he worked and coached at Mt. Newton, Stelly’s, Oak Bay, Arbutus and Shoreline. He finally found his home at Lambrick Park in September 1994. Mr. Turnbull, Mr. T, Tom, Thomas, Tommy T, Tommy Tuff, T-Dog, Mr. Dork, Don Cherry, and of course, Elvis, has been the “go to guy” at Lambrick for years. Tom brings LP to life every morning with a smile on his face, playing music and reading the daily announcements as students settle into their classes. It’s hard to imagine not having Tommy T at Lambrick – from King & Queen of the Hill, track & field, cross country, roller hockey, soccer, volleyball, gymnastics and a reminder of every holiday and tradition that exists. Tom is ALWAYS involved at LP, and always with energy and a smile. Tom has taken teams to Island Championships, BC Championships and travel trips to California, Oregon, Washington, New Brunswick, Quebec and Ontario. He has won Provincial Championships as a coach (or assistant coach) in track & field, cross country, roller hockey and soccer. Always willing to coach, cheer, help and be someone to rely on. Tom truly is the perfect example of a great teacher-coach; someone that all teachers should strive to be. Tom truly cares about every student he has ever taught and every staff member that he has ever worked with. He is always up for a good chat at the track, on the field, in the gym, or in the hall with anybody that he has crossed paths with. Tom always takes the time to make you feel like he truly cares. Tom has made Lambrick Park what it is today. The world would be a much better place with more Tommy T’s in it.

Steve Szatmary
Steve “Szats” Szatsmary started his coaching career in 1986 at a Toronto high school. After moving to Victoria, he coached boys basketball at Colquitz junior high for a few years under the mentorship of Keith Grew. In 1995 he was transferred to LP and coached the junior boys basketball team until he retired in 2020, and amazing run of 25 straight years coaching and mentoring Jr boys. In 2018 Steve and Keith were reunited as coaches at LP and in 2020 led the boys to Lambrick’s first Jr Boys Basketball Island Championship in school history. Steve is quoted as saying, as much as I loved teaching, coaching always put that little extra spark into my life and a kick in my step. Steve has been truly missed at LP, we wish him all the best in his retirement.

2019-2020 Retirees:

Keith Butler
Keith coached cross country and track and field at Oak Bay for 30 years. His team’s won an atoning 45 Provincial Championships: 10 for boys xc, 12 for girls xc, 3 for boys track and field, 9 for girls track and field and 10 combined track and field. In the 2007 calendar year, Keith’s xc and t and f teams won all 5 banners. His team’s were second at Provincials 16 times. He is easily the winning coach in BC School Sports history. Keith served as athletic director for a decade, ushering in an era of Provincial Championships for Oak Bay in many other sports (31 medallists- top 3 finishes) and the most successful school in BC. An exceptional athlete himself (CIAU Cross Country all Canadian in 1983 and former starting point guard for Langley and Mt Doug high school in basketball). His standard for greatness and his impact will be felt for future generations of students and coaches who come through Oak Bay. Keith served (and is still serving) for a long time as LIVISSA Treasurer. Brings his incredible organizational skills to the role that only he can do so well. In addition, he was also the head coach of the Uvic men’s cross country team for 4 years and was awarded the Canada West coach of the year and also chosen as the cross country coach for the Canadian University Games team during his stint at Uvic. Keith is also the main event organizer for the International level and world class, Victoria Track Classic, that just returned after a 3 year layoff. He can also be found now as a postman for Canada Post or cheering on his daughter’s 3 time National field hockey champion Uvic team or playing golf at Uplands as much as his wife Sue will allow! Congratulations Keith, you are the most successful coach in the history of BC School Sports and your legacy will have an incredible impact for generations to come.

Mike Sheffer
“Sheff’s” commitment to Oak Bay is unquestioned.  He arrived at Oak Bay in 1993 and has been heavily involved in the athletic program his entire career, and was the second athletic director at Oak Bay.  He was a long-time basketball coach at the junior and senior boys level with Dave Thomson, and the snr girls volleyball coach for several years. In addition to his significant role on the track and field team, Sheff frequently stepped up to sponsor or assist with many other teams in need, including jr girls v-ball, field hockey and others. Sheff was the field coach for the highly successful track and field team which won 23 Provincial Championships, won the Senior island Championship 29 years in a row, and won the Junior island Championship 30 years in a row. Sheff took over as Head coach of the track team in 2011 and won 4 Provincial Track and Field Championships. Sheff brought his infectious spirit, wit and incredible commitment to all his team’s, and always showed tremendous pride in the accomplishments of the athletes and teams at Oak Bay. Even in retirement,  Shef found ways to give back and contribute to Oak Bay’s track and field program.  He was a volunteer during all the league meets, running the discus event at all meets and also at the Lower Islands. He provided valuable guest coaching at practices who the coaches all leaned on for his incredible wealth of experience and knowledge. Even at his wife’s Louise’s retirement celebration,  Shef could be found sneaking in phone calls to the Oak Bay coaches in Langley asking for updates and giving advice while Oak Bay went on to win its 24th and 25th BC track and field titles. He is one of a kind and sorely missed throughout Oak Bay and the entire community.  We are grateful and extremely thankful for the volunteer time he has given and continues to give. 

          Legacy List of LVISSAA & LIMSSA Coaches