Former CAC president, longtime track broadcaster Geoff Gowan dies at 83

OTTAWA – Geoff Gowan, a member of the Order of Canada for his contribution to coaching and a longtime voice of track and field in this country, has died. He was 83.

Gowan died Thursday night in Halifax after a lengthy struggle with Parkinson’s disease, according to a release from the Coaching Association of Canada (CAC).

Gowan, a former CAC president, worked for the coaching organization for 25 years.

“Geoff was an outstanding leader in Canadian sport, and influenced thousands of athletes, coaches, and colleagues in sport management and the media. He has been a friend, role model, and mentor to myself and many others in Canadian sport, and will be deeply missed,” CAC chief executive officer John Bales said in a statement.

A lasting tribute to Gowan’s leadership is the annual Geoff Gowan Award, which recognizes lifetime contribution to coaching development.

Many of Canada’s top coaches have won the award, including Jack Donahue, Doug Clement, Al Morrow, Donald Dion, Charles Cardinal, Andy Higgins, Tim Frick, Allison McNeill, Lyle Sanderson, Dru Marshall and Keith Russell.

Through his work with the CAC, Gowan was instrumental in the training of more than a million coaches through the development of the National Coaching Certification Program, considered to be among the best coaching education programs in the world.

The member of Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame also was a well-known broadcaster, covering track and field for the CBC at the Olympic Games and world championships.

Gowan was awarded the Order of Canada in 1992. He also received an honorary doctorate in civil law from Acadia University for his service to sport in Canada.

Details on funeral arrangements have not been released.