Football Saskatchewan is excited to announce the coaching staff that will lead Team Saskatchewan at Football Canada’s National Women’s Tackle Championship in 2020.  The tournament will be hosted in Sherwood Park, AB, from July 30 – August 8th and will crown a national champion for the third time in history.  Saskatchewan enters the competition looking to defend its title, after winning the previous tournament in 2016.

The team will be lead by Head Coach Pat Barry, the current head coach of the WWCFL champion Saskatoon Valkyries.  A teacher in Saskatoon, Barry is one of the most decorated coaches in the province of Saskatchewan, having coached high school in Saskatoon for almost 30 years.  He has served as a position coach, coordinator and head coach at numerous schools.  Barry is currently the defensive coordinator at Walter Murray Collegiate.  Next season will be his seventh season as a coach with the Saskatoon Valkyries, his fourth as the Head Coach.

He’s been an active coach for Team Saskatchewan in the past, holding positions on provincial teams at the Six Nations Challenge and U18 Canada Cup.  His most recent experience was as a position coach at the 2016 Women’s National Championship, helping Team Saskatchewan win Gold.

Caleb Dueck, Kris Hadesback and John Svenson will act as the coordinators under the direction of Barry.

A veteran coach in Saskatoon Minor Football programs, Dueck has been a head coach and receiver coach for SMF’s six-a-side programs and high school academy. He has also spent time as a receiver’s coach with the Tommy Douglas Tigers and Aden Bowman Bears.  In 2019 Dueck was the head coach for the U16 North Sask Flag team that competed at the Western Regional Tournament in Regina.  He has been working with the Saskatoon Valkyries’ receivers since 2015, but will work with the Quarterbacks as he leads the Team Sask Offense.

Controlling the defense will be the job of the Regina Riot’s Kris Hadesback.  Hadesback first began coaching through Regina Minor Football programs in 2011. He has head coached the Bantam Eagles in the past and currently assists at the Regina Victoria Female camps.  He is currently the defensive backs coach and defensive coordinator at Campbell Collegiate.   Hadesback started coaching the Regina Riot in 2011 as a linebacker coach; in 2020 he will find a new role, as their newest Head Coach.

Melville’s John Svenson will be on staff for the second time, having served as the Special Teams Coordinator in 2016.  Another 30 year veteran, Svenson is currently an educator at Melville Comprehensive and serves as the football team’s Head Coach. John is also involved in Melville Minor Football and continues to work with young females learning the game, he serves as the head coach of the Melville Vipers all-female 9-a-side team.  He most recently served as the Head Coach of Team Saskatchewan that competed at the first ever U18 Female Red River Cup. 

John brings excellent tournament experience not only from the 2016 National Championship but also as the defensive line coach at the 2017 Women’s Team Canada that won silver at the IFAF World Championships held in Langley, BC. 

The assistant coaches include Beth Thompson, Claire Dore, Brenden Bennett and Wyatt Carleton.

Beth Thompson will serve as the defensive line coach, a position she’s held with the Saskatoon Valkyries for the past five seasons.  Thompson is heavily involved in the Saskatoon Rush program and also coaches at Bedford Road Collegiate.  She’s no stranger to tournament play either, serving as a line coach at the 2016 National Championship.  A former player, Thompson moved into a coaching role after her career with the Saskatoon Valkyries, Team Saskatchewan and Team Canada programs.

Claire Dore is another former Team Saskatchewan and Team Canada athlete.  Acting as the receiver coach, she’ll be able to utilize her experience from her playing days with the Regina Riot.  She’s most recently worked as the receiver coach for the Regina Riot, but has branched out to other roles as well.  Dore has added special teams coordinator and offensive coordinator to her resume, holding those roles with the Balfour Bears (SPT) and Regina Victorias (OC).  Dore is heavily involved in basketball and handball in Regina as well.

Football Saskatchewan’s Technical Director, Brenden Bennett, will return to his role on Team Saskatchewan as the Offensive Line Coach.  A former player with the University of Regina, Bennett transitioned into coaching at the high school level soon after exhausting his eligibility.  He continues to coach the offensive line at Riffel High School and doubles up duties as their strength and conditioning coordinator.  Bennett has been a staple with the Regina Riot since 2014, acting as their Offensive Line coach and Run Game Coordinator.

Rounding out the staff is Wyatt Carleton.  Carleton is fairly new to women’s football but has seen success right away.  He’s spent two years with the Saskatoon Valkyries, including this past season as their Defensive Coordinator, capturing the 2019 WWCFL championship.  Carleton has been the Defensive Coordinator at Evan Hardy High School since 2013 and has worked with provincial teams with Football Saskatchewan and Saskatoon Minor Football, most recently as the Defensive Coordinator of the U18 Selects.

The coaching staff has high hopes for Team Saskatchewan as they look to repeat as champions in 2020.  Team Saskatchewan Staff: