New bench bosses for Golden Shield

Two new faces have been added to the varsity coaching team with Golden Shield Athletics.

Longtime Sudbury native Tom Sutton will be tackling the challenge of guiding the men’s volleyball program at Cambrian College, while Napanee resident Richard Whitfield makes the move north to work with the men’s basketball team.

Sutton, 48, was born in North Bay and graduated from Widdifield Secondary School. He had made the move to the coaching ranks prior to even completing his OUA playing career with the York Yeoman and Laurentian Voyageurs.

A member of the provincial team as a player, Sutton’s coaching resume is even more impressive. After a short stint at Sudbury Secondary School, Sutton has become a mainstay with both the boys and girls programs at Lo-Ellen, leading the Knights to countless OFSAA appearances over the past decade or so.

A three-time OFSAA medallist as coach, Sutton has also worked closely with Ontario Volleyball Association programs, guiding regional teams through Ontario Summer Games competition and working closely with the OVA High Performance camps.

In addition to offering valuable input to club teams under the Northern Exposure, Sudbury Staxx and Les Diables banners, Sutton has also enjoyed experience as an assistant coach in both the OUA and OCAA ranks.

He looks forward to the challenge of growing what is expected to be a youthful, enthusiastic and energetic team at Cambrian into a squad that can compete at an elite level, year in and year out.

Similar to Sutton, Whitfield enjoyed a background as a competitive athlete in his sport before making the move behind the bench. With varsity experience both at the Royal Military College and St. Lawrence College (Kingston), Whitfield built upon the knowledge he had garnered as a member of the Guardsmen organization, playing for the well-respected family tandem of Rob and Dave Smart.

Whitfield remained involved as a coach for the Guardsmen, also tackling the same challenge at Lasalle Secondary School in Kingston before accepting an assistant coaching position at RMC.

In 2011-2012, Whitfield was named as head coach of the men’s basketball team at Loyalist College in Belleville, a position he held through to this most recent season.

“I am really grateful and very excited to have the opportunity to coach at Cambrian College,” said Whitfield. “The support they are giving me really made it an easy decision to relocate here and take over the program.”