Shawn Preston hired as new Manager of Sport Performance

WOLFVILLE, N.S. – Acadia University is pleased to announce the addition of Shawn Preston to Acadia Athletics' high performance team. Preston, who will lead as the Manager of Sport Performance, has a long resume that includes recent time as the head strength and conditioning coach at the University of Manitoba along working with the National women's senior rugby seven's team and the Chinese National rowing and sailing team.

Axewomen Volleyball head coach Michelle Wood, who chaired the Manager of Sport Performance selection committee is thrilled to have someone of Preston's caliber join Acadia Athletics.

"Shawn has built a very reputable brand for himself with his diverse experience in the University setting, the private business sector, and on the Olympic stage. We look forward to being a part of Shawn's innovative ideas and the upward trajectory our programs will experience under Shawn's leadership as the Manager of Sport Performance."

A certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist and Athletic Trainer/Therapist in 2005, Preston spent four years with Peak Power Sport Development as a S&C Coach from 2009 to 2013 providing Rugby Canada athletes preparation for the 2011 World Cup along with other work with Rugby Alberta, Alberta Alpine, Snowboard Canada and SAIT athletes.

From 2013 to 2014, Preston joined the Canadian Sport Institute Calgary where he worked with Rugby Canada and Hockey Canada providing contracted services for their athletes.

In April 2013 to August 2013, and August 2014 to February 2015, Preston consulted with the Chinese National and Provincial sport organizations for combat sports and managed/implemented high performance training strategies and rehabilitations with profiled National team athletes throughout China.

In February of 2015, Preston became the head strength and conditioning coach at the University of Manitoba in Winnipeg where he managed the Sports Performance program for 12 varsity teams until July of 2018.

Preston returned to the international athletics, heading the strength and conditioning programs of the Chinese rowing and sailing teams at the Hong Kong Sports Institute in 2018.

In January of 2021, Preston became the Strength and Conditioning Coach and Sport Scientist with the Canadian National senior women's seven's team located in Langley, B.C. He was the Athletic Performance Lead, managing staff that included the integration of planning for speed, strength, on-field conditioning, nutrition, player wellness and recovery sciences in preparation for this summer's 2021 Tokyo Summer Olympics.

"I am thrilled to be offered the Manager of Sport Performance position at Acadia University.  It is an opportunity for me to step back into the University Sport setting and culminate all the previous experiences gained in my roles with Olympic and National Sport Organizations (NSO's), Provincial Sport Organizations (PSO's), and University Sport," said Preston.

"I am excited to build from what has already been created within the Acadia Athletics with Strength and Conditioning and I believe our visions align. I think we can progress with the development and performance of Acadia's student-athletes and adding the capability of being a resource for youth athletic development and professional/amateur athletes in the region," added Preston.

"The Athletics department has grown the sports performance area to foster learning and create a practical experience pathway for Kinesiology faculty and students with an interest in sports performance as well. Now is the time to put all the parts into process as we return after a challenging time dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic." 

Preston is scheduled to leave Canada for the Tokyo Olympics today, Wednesday, July 21, with the Team Canada's women seven's rugby team.