Brendan Bottcher to coach Rachel Homan’s team next season
Brendan Bottcher will be stepping into two new roles next season, coaching Rachel Homan’s Ottawa-based team and teaming up with the skip for mixed doubles.
Homan – whose team also included third Tracy Fleury, second Emma Miskew and lead Sarah Wilkes — announced the moves Monday.
Don Bartlett coached the team this past season, helping them win Canadian and world championships, two Grand Slam of Curling titles and finishing with an unprecedented 67-7 record to top the rankings.
“Having Brendan join our coaching staff is incredibly exciting,” Homan said in a release. “His experience, leadership, and strategy will undoubtedly elevate our game. With Brendan living in Edmonton near me, his continuous support will be invaluable both on and off the ice.”
Bottcher has earned seven medals at the Brier, including gold in 2021, plus five Grand Slam of Curling men’s titles. He spent the previous two seasons skipping with third Marc Kennedy, second Brett Gallant and lead Ben Hebert and finished No. 1 in the Canadian men’s rankings during their first year together. Kennedy, Gallant and Hebert announced in April they were moving on and have linked up with skip Brad Jacobs for next season.
Canada did not hold mixed doubles trials leading up to the 2022 Olympic Winter Games due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Homan and John Morris were selected to represent Canada and finished fifth in Beijing, missing the playoffs on a head-to-head tiebreaker with Sweden.
The mixed doubles trials for the 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, were moved up a season earlier and will begin Dec. 30 in Liverpool, N.S.
“I couldn’t be more excited to work hard with Brendan for the short season before the Mixed Doubles Trials,” Homan said. “We have similar work ethic and goals and I look forward to training together in the same city. Competing together in mixed doubles and having Brendan on board as our four-person coach will also be an added advantage.”
Team Homan also announced Rachelle Brown will continue as their alternate through to the conclusion of the Olympic cycle.
“Rachelle’s positive energy and unwavering support have been integral to our success,” Homan said. “It’s not a coincidence that out of the three events she joined us at last season (a Slam, Scotties and worlds) we won all those events with her on the bench. We even won a Grand Slam with Rachelle the season before while she filled in for Sarah on maternity leave. Her presence will undoubtedly strengthen our team bond and drive for excellence. I am also excited to have Rachelle here in Edmonton with Brendan, who is also her good friend.”