The Franco-Ontarian arrived in Sherbrooke on Thursday to supervise the smooth running of the Canada Cup, which serves as a qualifier for the last two installments of the World Cup, which will be contested in Europe.
A second qualifying window, in the middle of the season. An innovative approach put in place by the man who has worked as High Performance Director at Speed Skating Canada since 2021.
Marc Schryburt is no stranger to Sherbrooke.
He was in fact the offensive coordinator of the Vert & Or of the University of Sherbrooke, during the last season of head coach Alain Lapointe, in 2005.
It was during this same season that the Vert & Or participated in the playoffs for the first time in its short history.
“All we wanted to do was make the playoffs after two very difficult seasons. We had succeeded, so it’s a bit like we had won the Vanier Cup! The feeling of belonging and the pride that there was in Sherbrooke was very strong,” he recalls.
Bolduc gets the job
Schryburt was subsequently in the running to replace Lapointe, but it was André Bolduc who was chosen instead.
“I applied, and I was among the last in line, but they chose well, with André. I still see him on occasion. I left the organization, even though I was offered to remain in my offensive role. My family was still in Montreal. If I had gotten the head coaching job, the family would have moved.”
Schryburt subsequently accumulated various experiences which allowed him to explore new horizons.
The passion for coaching
But always projects where he supervised the work of the coaches.
“I have always worked in coaching education. So immediately after Sherbrooke, I obtained a school principal position, in Granby, at the Collège du Mont-Sacré-Cœur. I was also sports director at the University of Ottawa,” he explains.
“I then went to the National Coaches Association for training and then took over coaching at Cirque du Soleil. I did all kinds of things, but always linked to the coaches. I love coaching coaches!”, he laughs.
“They have exceptional work and my expertise is hiring the right people and motivating them to do their jobs. That’s what I did. I have always had a passion for coaching.”
Then came the pandemic. Which brought the activities of Cirque du Soleil to a complete halt.
Schryburt set up a consulting business, before the call from Speed Skating Canada came.
From temporary to permanent
His adventure with Speed Skating Canada was only supposed to last one year, in 2021.
The position he held on an interim basis was transformed into a permanent position. Just in time for the Olympic cycle which culminates in Beijing in 2022.
And it’s not all good memories, for Schryburt.
“I can’t wait for 2026 to experience the real Olympic Games! In China, we felt like we were in prison. It was unusual, there was nothing we could do. The village was a prison. We boarded the bus, they took us to the arena. And there was a line of police, when we arrived, to ensure that we entered the arena, and not elsewhere!”
-Franco-Ontarian Marc Schryburt is high performance director of the Canadian Olympic short track speed skating team. (Courtesy)
Schryburt was also behind the hiring of Olympian Marc Gagnon as head coach of the Canadian team last summer.
Sébastien Cros, in position before him, remains with the team as an assistant.
“It happened quietly. I had this potentially in mind for 2023, but I lost my boss along the way. I wanted to make sure I had the support of Speed Skating Canada. I took the opportunity to have discussions with the two guys,” he said.
“I found both had their strengths; Marc is a great unifier, an incredible communicator and Sébastien is a planner, a cerebral person. Marc is a humanist, and that’s what I was looking for, to work on team cohesion.”
Former Olympic medalist Marc Gagnon has led the short track team since last summer. (jean roy Jean Roy/La Tribune)
“Sébastien retained his role as planner and assistant. The two complement each other well.”
Schryburt is especially pleased to have succeeded in increasing the coaching staff within the national team.
“There were two and a half coaches when I arrived, and now we have seven! I believe we have what it takes to be the best team in the world, and that’s what we’re aiming for.”
The Canada Cup, then.
An important step, Shryburt says.
“It’s big. Three years out of four, we have a two-window system, which gives access to international competitions. At the start of the year, for the first four World Cups. And a second window is there, in January, where you have a second chance to maybe take a place and participate in the world cups.
Football, from the corner of your eye
Marc Schryburt is still very interested in football.
Especially college football.
Will Montreal and Quebec one day be able to be dislodged?
“It’s becoming difficult to follow for other programs. Montreal and Quebec have more full-time coaches than the Montreal Alouettes!”
“How do we level? From the bottom, with a salary cap for the coaching staff? We need to stop seeing university football by provincial conference. It doesn’t hold up. Bring the best programs together, and you make a big Canadian Division 1.”
“It’s going to have to come to that. But it’s a question of money. The key is the interest of the broadcasters. I believe it can happen. If we sign a contract with Sportsnet, it could happen.
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