Trent University Names Shawn Carmichael as Head Coach of Excalibur Women's Rugby

Nathan McFadden, Director of Athletics & Recreation at Trent University, announced today the appointment of Shawn Carmichael as the new head coach of the Excalibur women's rugby program. 

"We are very excited to have Shawn leading our women's rugby program moving forward," said McFadden. "He is well respected within the rugby community and brings extensive winning experience at the high school, U18 and OUA levels that will greatly benefit our student-athletes. With his clear vision for our program, dedication to player development and engaging approach to coaching student-athletes, I believe he will have a positive impact on the success of our program." 

Carmichael brings a diverse coaching background and a deep passion for rugby to Trent. A dedicated educator and coach within the Peterborough Victoria Northumberland and Clarington Catholic District School Board, he has been instrumental in developing young rugby talent at both the high school and club levels. 

Most recently, Carmichael served as an assistant coach for the Queen's University men's rugby team, helping guide the Gaels to an OUA silver medal and a national silver medal in 2024. His experience also includes coaching the Oshawa Vikings U18 and women's teams, leading them to a provincial bronze medal in the Ontario Women's League (OWL), as well as coaching the Cobourg Saxons U16, U18, and women's teams, where he helped his squads achieve multiple top four provincial finishes. 

With a coaching career spanning well over a decade, Shawn has led successful high school programs at St. Mary Catholic Secondary School (2019-2024) and St. Stephen Catholic Secondary School (2007-2018), mentoring both boys' and girls' teams to numerous OFSAA championship appearances. His teams have captured OFSAA gold (2019, 2023), silver (2022), and bronze (2017, 2022), demonstrating his ability to develop winning programs and high-performance athletes. 

Beyond his work in high school and club rugby, Shawn has contributed to provincial-level development as an assistant coach with Rugby Ontario's U18 program, working with elite athletes from across Central Ontario. His experience also extends to officiating, having served as a referee for high school, club, OCAA, and OUA rugby matches since 2011. 

As he steps into the role, Carmichael is eager to build on the foundation of the Excalibur women's rugby program and continue its long tradition in U SPORTS competition. 

"Rugby is a sport all about teamwork and support. The only path forward is together as one," said Carmichael. "I look forward to building a strong team culture and helping our student-athletes reach their full potential, both on and off the field." 

The Excalibur women's rugby team will kick off their 2025-26 season this fall. Stay tuned for more updates and announcements as the team prepares for an exciting year ahead.