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University of Alberta

University Of Alberta Golden Bears & Pandas

University Of Alberta
Golden Bears & Pandas

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Be The Roar

Matt Parrish

Matt Parrish

Biography

Born in Newcastle, England, Matt Parrish has been a part of the Pandas Rugby program since its inception in 1999. An assistant coach to Helen Wright for the first five years of the Pandas exsistence, Parrish helped the team win five-straight Canada West and CIS National Championships. 

He took over from Wright as the Pandas head coach prior to the 2004 season, and has been in the role ever since. Over his 21 years as head coach, Parris has won five more Canada West Championships, the 2013 CIS Championship, and five Canada West Coach of the Year Awards. 

He has also spent time coaching with both Rugby Alberta and Rugby Canada, and is heavily involved in the Edmonton Rugby Community. His wife Heather is a member of the University of Alberta Sports Wall of Fame. 

Coaching History

Rugby 15s Overall Conference Playoffs Conference Result National Result
21 Years 77-60-3 51-39-0 24-20-2
2004 6-1-1 4-0-0 2-1-1 Champion (1) Bronze
2005 7-1-0 4-0-0 3-1-0 Champion (2) Silver
2006 3-1-0 3-1-0 - Bronze -
2007 4-1-0 3-0-0 1-1-0 Silver -
2008 4-3-1 3-0-0 1-3-1 Silver 6
2009 4-2-1 3-1-0 1-1-0 Silver -
2010 4-2-0 3-1-0 1-1-0 Silver -
2011 4-2-0 3-1-0 1-1-0 Silver -
2012 8-1-0 4-0-0 4-1-0 Champiom (3) Bronze
2013 9-0-0 4-0-0 5-0-0 Champion (4) Champion (1)
2014 5-4-0 3-1-0 2-3-0 Champion (5) 6
2015 4-3-0 3-1-0 0-2-0 4 -
2016 3-3-0 2-2-0 1-1-0 3 -
2017 0-4-0 0-4-0 - 5 -
2018 2-6-0 2-4-0 0-2-0 4 -
2019 1-6-1 0-6-0 - 5 -
2020 No Season (COVID-19 Pandemic)
2021 0-6-0 0-6-0 - 5 -
2022 2-6-0 1-5-0 1-1-0 3 -
2023 5-3-0 4-2-0 1-1-0 3 -
2024 2-4-0 2-4-0 - 5 -
 
Rugby 7s Overall Conference Conference Result
54-77-1 48-73-1
2017 8-4 8-4 3
2018 9-9 9-9 5
2019 7-10 7-10 5
2020 8-7 8-7 3
2021 No Season (COVID-19 Pandemic)
2022 8-8 8-8 3
2023 7-13 4-11 5
2024 5-13-1 2-11-1 4
2025 2-13 2-13 6

PANDAS RUGBY COACHING RECORD HISTORY


COACHING ACCOLADES

Canada West Champion (Head Coach)
2004, 2005, 2012, 2013, 2014
U SPORTS Champion (Head Coach)
2013
Canada West Coach of the Year
2005, 2008, 2009, 2012, 2014
Canada West Champion (Assistant Coach)
1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003
U SPORTS Champion (Assistant Coach)
1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003
Rugby Canada Coach
15s in 2006 World Cup

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