OTTAWA -- Scott Oldershaw was named head coach of CanoeKayak Canada's national sprint team Wednesday.
The veteran coach and former Olympian will spend one year in the new position to help establish a high-performance system with an eye to the Rio Games in 2016.
"I'm looking forward to my new role with the team," Oldershaw said in a release. "I truly believe we can work together to become one of the strongest canoeing nations in the world, in all disciplines."
CanoeKayak Canada said its contingent of coaches will work with Oldershaw to refine the sprint system.
Oldershaw has been a personal coach to his son, canoeist Mark Oldershaw, and kayaker Adam van Koeverden for several years and will continue to work with them going forward. Mark won a bronze medal at the London Games last summer while van Koeverden won a silver for his fourth career Olympic medal.
"Scott's accomplishments as a coach are simply amazing and we are so fortunate to have him step into this leadership role," said CanoeKayak Canada director general Lorraine Lafreniere.
"We're excited about what Scott will bring to this position as we work together to build a strong high-performance system focused on achieving more outstanding results for Canada."
Oldershaw's coaching career spans more than two decades and he has served as a coach at four Olympic Games.
He has worked with several disciplines of the national team, coached development and provincial teams, and has also worked extensively with world champion canoeist Mallorie Nicholson.
Oldershaw competed for Canada in the 1984 Olympic Games and is one of five Olympians in the Oldershaw family.
