Chloe Rowe named CCAA Coach of the Year
With files from the CCAA
The Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) is proud to announce that Chloe Rowe of the Humber Hawks has been named the 2026 CCAA Badminton Coach of the Year. Rowe is just the 14th head coach in Humber history and joins co-head coaches Lam Trihn and Michael Kopinak in 2010 as the only Humber badminton coaches to garner the award.
In just her fourth season as head coach, Rowe continues to elevate Humber's badminton program to new heights. With nine new players joining the Hawks this year, she successfully integrated a dynamic mix of international-calibre athletes and emerging elite talent, building one of the strongest teams in recent OCAA history.
Her roster includes athletes ranked among the top 25 in the world, as well as competitors with clear Olympic aspirations. That high-performance environment translated directly into results, as Rowe's athletes continue to make their mark on both the national and international stage.
Recently, Humber standouts Rachel Chan, Timothy Lock, and Catherine Choi helped Canada capture gold at the 2026 Pan Am Cup in Guatemala. Lock currently sits 70th in the BWF World Rankings, Chan 75th, and Choi 89th, further underscoring the global calibre of talent within the Hawks program.
"Chloe has demonstrated an incredible ability to manage high-performance athletes while fostering a cohesive team environment," said Bob Murray, CCAA VP of Awards and Marketing. "Her transition from one of the CCAA's most decorated student-athletes to an elite national coach is a testament to her work ethic and deep understanding of the game."
Rowe's impact extends well beyond a single season. As a coach, she has led her teams to five national medals—four of them gold—along with six OCAA medals. As a student-athlete at Humber, she won four national championships with four different partners, helping establish the proud tradition she now carries forward from the sidelines.
Beyond the collegiate ranks, Rowe has also made a significant impact in her community. She revitalized the junior badminton program at the Port Hope Racquet Club, which her former coach, Jolyon Thompson, had originally started, increasing participation from just a handful of students to 25 young athletes in three years. Her mentorship has introduced many aspiring players to the OCAA pathway, helping them envision a future in both education and high-performance sport.
"Chloe Rowe has built more than a badminton program at Humber; she's built a culture of discipline, accountability, and belief," said Brian Lepp, Humber's Coordinator of Sports Information and Marketing. "She carries forward Humber's proud tradition of excellence in badminton, one she helped build herself as a student-athlete."
CCAA Coach of the Year winners receive a customized ring provided by Jostens Canada, the Official Ring Supplier of the CCAA National Championship banquet.
