We are extremely pleased to announce that the national university men’s rugby Coach of the Year will henceforth be known as the Doug Tate University Rugby Coach of the Year, and that a new fund at the Canadian Rugby Foundation has been established to support a $1,000 award for the annual Coach of the Year. Named in honour of legendary Canadian university rugby coach Doug Tate, the Doug Tate University Rugby Coach of the Year Award Fund was established in February 2026 to:
- Recognise the Canadian University Men’s Rugby Head Coach of the Year; and
- Honour Doug Tate’s contributions to university rugby in Canada in his roles as the long-time head coach of the University of Victoria Vikes, his prior time with the UBC Thunderbirds, and as a co-founder of the McTavish Cup, the Canadian University Men’s Rugby Championship
Who is Doug Tate?
In the Fall of 2018, Doug Tate entered his 25th year patrolling the Vikes sideline at Wallace Field as head coach of the four-time Canadian University champion men’s rugby team. The following season, at the 2019 McTavish Cup / Canadian University Men’s Rugby Championship or CUMRC, hosted by Concordia University in Montreal, Doug’s Vikes team prevailed over the UBC Thunderbirds for the Gold Medal in a squeaker, 21-20. What a way to go into retirement!
Tate can also boast a tremendous track record of success against those UBC Thunderbirds prior to 2019. The two schools meet in annual rivalry game to play for the Wightman Boot trophy. Tate led the Vikes to a 16-year winning streak in the series with an overall won-loss record of 35-4-1 leading into 2014. In 2009-10, the Vikes won the two-game series by a record margin of 94 points.
With Tate at the helm, the Vikes had previously won back-to-back Canadian university invitational titles in 1997 and ’98. Tate also led the Vikes to BC Rugby Premier Division Championships in 2003 and 2010, and in 2011 the Vikes captured their ninth Barnard Cup as Island champs with a 23-18 upset of James Bay.
Countless Vikes players under Tate have suited up for National XVs and Sevens teams. In 2009, six Vikes represented Canada at the senior men’s XVs level, four played for the senior men’s 7s squad, five competed in the Junior World Rugby Trophy and two Vikes were on the FISU World Rugby Sevens squad that ventured to Portugal.
Tate himself is familiar with the international stage. He was head of Canada’s National Rugby Sevens team for five years (1997-02) and served as the Technical Director for the Canadian National Sevens Team during 2008 tour stops in San Diego, Hong Kong and Adelaide, Australia. Tate also coached Canada at the 1998 and 2002 Commonwealth Games.
Tate’s playing career saw him suit up at the club, provincial and national level. The Vancouver native was a member of the 1981 Canadian National Team that toured to Argentina, as well as competing for UBC at the varsity level.
Along with coaching the Premier team, Tate has also managed the Vikes first division team, the Norsemen, as well as the Vikes development team, the Jutes. Tate is a Certified Master Coach courtesy of the National Coaching Institute. He also has Bachelor and Masters degrees in Education, and has taught at UVic in the Master of Education in Coaching Studies (MEd CS) program, providing students with a background in the art and science involved in coaching sport. He is currently the Coach Education Manager for the BCRU.
However, Doug’s most impactful victories were recorded off the pitch. The growth of players into responsible and thoughtful young men through their involvement in a physically demanding yet caring and humour-filled team environment was the lasting result of Doug’s legacy.
For Doug, the door was always open, and, whether a player was the star of the team or a third division workhorse, his time and compassion were the same. At the start of each season often close to a hundred players turned up to play and none were ever turned away except by their own choice. This was the essence of Doug’s commitment to a diverse and inclusive program for all. He never failed to give of his time to any who asked his help.
During this time, Doug was a committed family man and, along with wife Tami, successfully raised two fine young men, Morgan and Brayden, who both embraced his passion for the sport.
Following a highly decorated career spanning over 40 years, including his 27 years as UVic head coach, Tate was the recipient of the 2021 Lifetime Achievement Award at the Coaching Association of Canada (CAC) Sport Leadership Awards Gala.
The Gala celebrates outstanding achievements in coaching and sport development and honours coaches who exemplify the values and competencies of the National Coaching Certification Program (NCCP) and their positive impact within Canada’s sport system. The Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes a lifelong commitment to coaching and coach development. The award is presented to an outstanding individual who has positively influenced the growth of coaching in Canada, contributed significantly to the sport community, shown dedication to upholding the values of the NCCP, and inspired future generations of coaches.
Doug was a founder of the McTavish Cup in 2017 with Jeff Chan, Mike Holmes and Keith Labbett, and continues on its Governing Council.
He is also a founding member of the Canadian Rugby Foundation’s University Coaching Awards Committee, which provides funding to selected university rugby coaches for the Crusaders Global Academy in Christchurch, NZ.
Needless to say, Doug’s dedication to rugby , and coaching in Canada is second to none.
MAJOR TEAM AWARDS:
- Rounsfell Cup – B.C. PREMIER LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP: 1971, 2003, 2010
- Barnard Cup – Vancouver Island Elite Division Title: 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1984, 1985, 1987, 1987, 2003, 2006, 2009
- Canadian University Invitational Championship: 1997, 1998
- University 7s Championship: 2011, 2013, 2014, 2016
- McTavish Cup/CUMRC: 2019
The Award
The award is presented to the national Men’s Rugby Coach of the Year at the McTavish Cup Awards Ceremony and includes a trophy and a $1,000 financial honorarium for the honoured coach.
Selection and Presentation
The selection of the national Coach of the Year is based on the regular-season achievements of the coach, as voted on from among the conference Coaches of the Year. The selection process is organised through the McTavish Cup/CUMRC Board once the conference coaches have been selected, and before the McTavish Cup Awards ceremonies.
TO HELP HONOUR DOUG’S COACHING LEGACY, AND DONATE TO THE DOUG TATE UNIVERSITY RUGBY COACH OF THE YEAR AWARD FUND, GO HERE:
