BARRIE, Ontario – The Georgian Grizzlies men’s rugby team concluded their 2021 regular season on Oct. 23 with a 10-5 victory over the Durham Lords at J.C. Massie Field. The Grizzlies wrap up the campaign with a record of 2-1-1, marking the ninth consecutive season with a winning record, all under the tutelage of esteemed head coach John Daggett. Since joining the Grizzlies in 2012, Daggett has compiled a remarkable record of 41-9-2. Through Daggett’s leadership, the Grizzlies once again qualified for the postseason and will aim to compete in the gold medal match the weekend of Nov. 6-7.

Before taking the reigns as the Grizzlies head coach, Daggett served as the co-op consultant of employer development for Georgian College’s Hospitality, Tourism, and Recreations program dating back to 2003. Previously, Daggett worked as a career counsellor at Centennial College. Daggett’s extensive work with at-risk youth and as faculty advisor for Georgian Pride has made him an invaluable asset towards youth development. That experience has carried over into a successful career in varsity-level coaching.

Daggett elevated the Grizzlies men’s rugby program to peak heights. With Daggett at the helm, the Grizzlies have won five straight OCAA West division titles and amassed multiple perfect seasons (6-0). Daggett has been named the OCAA West Division Coach of the Year on five occasions and has won the OCAA Men’s Rugby Coach of the Year twice, once in 2019 and additionally in the 2016-17 season when the Grizzlies won gold. The Grizzlies have medaled five years running under the guidance of Daggett.

Daggett’s success with the Grizzlies and winning gold culminated in being named 2016 Rugby Canada Male Coach of the Year. Daggett was honored at the annual awards dinner in Vancouver, British Columbia. Daggett continues to utilize his pedigree to recruit aspiring athletes to join Georgian College’s prestigious rugby program during the COVID-19 pandemic. The current restrictions due to the pandemic have made acquiring new players difficult.

“A lot of young athletes did not play in the spring of 2020,” Daggett said regarding the pandemic restrictions. “We’ve had people that have come and gone to college and graduated already, and rugby didn’t even exist for them.”

While recent hurdles have been challenging, Daggett has found a way to keep the Grizzlies competitive. He attributes that recent success to an off-field approach.

“We focus on the culture,” he explained. “We have a great group of young people, and we always make sure that’s a priority. Because of that, we’ve had success on the field.”

The phenomenal coaching and work by Daggett have enabled the Grizzlies to remain relevant in the rugby scene. Daggett’s expertise will be instrumental in the Grizzlies’ quest to medal for a sixth consecutive year. With Daggett leading the way, the Grizzlies should continue finding success and will be in contention for another championship.

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