February 3/00 10:48 am - Des Dickie Named USA Cycling National Sprint Events Coach

Posted by Editoress on 02/3/00
 

Des Dickie Named USA Cycling National Sprint Events Coach
courtesy USA Cycling

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Feb. 2, 2000) - Des Dickie, who directed the Canadian Olympic track cycling team at the two Olympic Games, was named the national track sprint events coach for USA Cycling, it was announced Wednesday.

"I am excited about this opportunity, and I am familiar with coaching at this level after my 12 years in Canada," said Dickie. "I have a strong rapport with the riders, and anxious to work with the current sprinters, as well as the future stars of American cycling."

"We are very fortunate to have someone with Des' ability and experience to guide our sprint program," said Sean Petty, USA Cycling Director of Athlete Performance. "Des has coached world champions and Olympic medalists in the past and we expect he will do the same for USA Cycling in the future."

Dickie joined the USA Cycling coaching staff in 1999 as the development track cycling coach. The 1988 and 1992 Olympic head coach for Canada, Dickie was Canada‚s national track cycling coach since 1985, and among his riders were world sprint champion Tanya Dubincoff (1993) and 1992 and 1996 Olympic bronze medalist Curt Hartnett (match sprint).

A UCI Olympic Solidarity coaching instructor since 1995, Dickie served as the head track coach for Canada eight years (1984-87, 1989-91, 1993), and also the 1983 and 1987 Pan American Games head coach. Harnett set the world record in the flying 200 meters.

Dickie, who served as the Commonwealth Games head coach on three occasions (1986, 1990, 1994), was the winner of the 1993 Wittnauer Coaching Excellence Award for providing the leadership which resulted in Dunbincoff‚s world title, which marked the fourth time he had earned the honor (1984, 1990, 1992-93).

Among his other top pupils were Gene Samuel (bronze, kilometer time trial, 19991 worlds), 1991 Pan Am Games champ Richard Young, Canadian national champions Douglas Baron (sprints) and Lori-Ann Muenzer and Kelly-Ann Carter, who earned three top-five World Championship finishes.

He started his career as the Ontario Cycling Association Provincial Coach (1976-84), and also was the Canadian Cycling Association Assistant national track coach (1980-84) before becoming the head coach. Dickie, who was an accomplished competitive cyclist, also served as the national coach for Trinidad & Tobago (1995-96).