For Immediate Release
November 28, 2025
Football Ontario Unveils Team Ontario U16 Women’s Tackle Head Coach
Football Ontario Announces Eric Parthenais as Head Coach of Team Ontario U16 Women’s Tackle Program
Hamilton, ON – November 28, 2025 – Football Ontario is proud to announce the appointment of Eric Parthenais as the Head Coach of the newly launched Team Ontario U16 Women’s Tackle Program.
With over 20 years of multi-sport coaching experience and a longstanding commitment to athlete development, Parthenais brings a strong track record of leadership, technical knowledge, and program-building to this new role. He has coached both men and women tackle football, flag football, and basketball, and is widely recognized for his ability to build competitive, disciplined, and supportive team environments.
“I am truly honoured and excited for the opportunity to help build and support the next generation of women’s football,” says Parthenais. “This program represents a major step forward for young female athletes, and I am committed to creating an environment where they can develop, compete, and thrive.”
Most recently, Parthenais has served as Head Coach and Offensive Coordinator of the Cumberland Girls tackle program, leading the team to a 2025 OWFL Championship title. Parthenais also runs the Cumberland Girls Elite Flag program, and manages a comprehensive offseason high-performance training program, with a particular focus on quarterback development and foundational skill building.
“I’m incredibly excited to welcome Coach Parthenais into our Team Ontario Women’s Tackle program. I am eager to get underway with this new program development and to continue growing the game for women and girls in Ontario,” says Emily Todd, Director of Development and Administration. “This is a crucial step forward for football in Ontario, to ensure we continue providing equal opportunities to girls to compete in the high performance pathway, and to highlight top talent across the province.”
Parthenais brings significant experience from the university level, having spent nine seasons coaching at Carleton University—including roles with both the men’s and women’s basketball programs. During this time, he appeared in five U SPORTS National Championships and captured three national titles, earning championships with both the women’s and men’s programs.
Launching a New Pathway for Young Women in Football
The U16 Women’s Tackle Program represents an exciting new chapter for Football Ontario and the continued development of the women’s game. Eligible athletes born in 2011, 2012, and 2013 will participate in regional Identification Camps and a Development Camp, designed to provide foundational skills and introduce athletes to the high-performance tackle football pathway from a younger age than ever before.
Parthenais’ extensive background in youth development, program structure, and competitive coaching makes him exceptionally well-suited to lead this inaugural team and create a welcoming, challenging, high-performance environment for young athletes entering the sport.
Football Ontario looks forward to the impact Coach Parthenais will have as he inspires, develops, and leads the next generation of women in football.
Football Ontario is now also accepting assistant coach and staff applications for the Team Ontario U16 Women’s Tackle Program for the 2026 season.
- Applications Open: December 1, 2025
- Application Deadline: December 15, 2025
- Start Date: January 1, 2026
- Contract Term: 2026
Available positions:
- General Manager
- Offensive Coordinator
- Defensive Coordinator
- Special Teams Coordinator
- Positional Coaches
- Mentee Coach
- Equipment Manager
Football Ontario is #ALLIN. We are committed to inclusive hiring practices and promoting diversity and equity daily. We support equal employment opportunities for all, regardless of race, age, gender identity, disability, sexual orientation, or religion.
Table of Contents
- Being a Great Teammate
- Required Certifications
- Staff Roles & Responsibilities
- Application Requirements
1. Being a Great Teammate
“Great leaders only preach what they are willing to consistently practice themselves.”
Guidelines for Being a Great Teammate (Coach, Parent, Athlete):
- I am practicing PATIENCE and UNDERSTANDING with others.
- I am only offering words of ENCOURAGEMENT with others.
- I am giving others my best ENERGY and ENTHUSIASM
- I am open to DIVERSITY of thought
- I am RESPECTING the 24-hour rule before sending an email or posting on social media
2. Required Certifications
Applicants must provide proof of the following:
- Completed Criminal Background Check + Vulnerable Sector Screening
- Required NCCP certifications:
| Making Ethical Decisions | https://thelocker.coach.ca/onlinelearning#MED-E |
| Safe Contact 2.0 | https://thelocker.coach.ca/onlinelearning#FB-SCR-EN |
| Making Head-Way in Football | https://coach.ca/nccp-making-head-way-football |
| Anti-Racism in Coaching | https://thelocker.coach.ca/onlinelearning#ARIC-E |
| Safe Sport | https://thelocker.coach.ca/onlinelearning#SS |
| Understanding the Rule of Two | https://thelocker.coach.ca/onlinelearning#URT-E |
- Note: Safe Contact Training (in-person or virtual) is required; if past the five-year expiry date, then SC 2.0 Refresher is sufficient.
Asset NCCP courses (recommended but not mandatory):
| Mental Health in Sport | https://thelocker.coach.ca/onlinelearning#MHIS-E |
| Managing Conflict | https://thelocker.coach.ca/onlinelearning#MC-E |
| Creating a Positive Sport Environment | https://thelocker.coach.ca/onlinelearning#CPSE-E |
3. Coach Roles & Responsibilities
Communication
- Use consistent communication platforms (e.g., TeamLinkt, WhatsApp), using Rule of 2, and maintaining open communication with parents, athletes and coaching staff.
High-Performance Pathway
- Collaborate with Head Coach and coaching staff to develop and oversee practice and training plans for tryouts, ID camps, and training camps
- Work with staff to promote events, recruit athletes, and structure development pathways
- Attend in-person events throughout tenure (tentative dates and locations for 2026)
- ID Camps/Dev Camps
- Waterloo ID Camp: January 11, 2026
- Toronto ID Camp: January 17, 2026
- Ottawa ID Camp: February 14, 2026
- Northern ID Camp: February 21, 2026
- Development Camp: Early May, 2026
- ID Camps/Dev Camps
4. Application Requirements
To be considered for the position, applicants must outline which specific coaching role they are applying to, and submit the following:
- Cover Letter
- Resume including contact information for 3 references
- Record of NCCP Coach Requirements completed to date
- One reference letter highlighting why they would be an ideal fit for the U16 Women’s Tackle Staff. This can include:
- Leadership qualities and characteristics
- Lived experience up to this point
- Specific coaching or organizational skills
Disclaimer: If, for any reason, an applicant is unable to provide documentation, they must communicate this to Football Ontario via email before the application deadline.
Please send applications to:
📧 etodd@footballontario.net
📧 jtsui@footballontario.net
Applications will be accepted until December 1, 2026.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
ABOUT FOOTBALL ONTARIO: Football Ontario is the sanctioned provincial governing body for football in Ontario, through its focus on transparency, growth, alignment and excellence, is engaged in providing football opportunities for all of Ontario. Football Ontario is driven by a commitment to deliver football programming, opportunities and resources for its members and the provincial football stakeholders. Please visit: footballontario.net
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