Head Coach – Jan Kruk

Jan will be assuming his duties as Banook’s new Head Coach on June 1. Jan previously held this position at Banook Canoe Club from 1987-1991. Jan is a former member of the Polish National Canoe Team. He came to Canada and to the Banook Canoe Club in 1987. During Jan’s time at Banook, the Club was successful at the local and national level in all age categories. Jan left Banook in 1991 to take the position of Head Coach/Manager at Point Claire Canoe Club. Jan worked at Point Claire until 2003, establishing a similarly solid and successful program. After several years away from coaching, since 2008, Jan has been employed by Sport Manitoba/Manitoba Paddling Association/Selkirk Canoe Kayak Center as Developmental Coach for Sprint Racing Canoe/Kayak. While in Manitoba, in addition to his coaching, Jan was instrumental in establishing the first PaddleAll (All Abilities) program in that province.

Associate Head Coach – Joe Starr

Joe has been involved in the sport of paddling for 16 years. For the past 6 years Joe has been coaching at Banook. Joe is a Certified Competitive coach and has worked with athletes aged 8 to 18. Many of the athletes Joe has coached have achieved great success at the national level. Joe has played a key role in maintaining Banook’s status as one of the top sprint canoe clubs in the country. Joe himself, raced at the provincial, national and international level. Joe’s passion for coaching and teaching extends beyond the paddling club as he is also a licensed teacher.