As a former National Champion fencer and nationally certified coach, Michael McDonnell brings over 25 years of fencing experience to the Town of Newmarket’s fencing program.

Michael was introduced to fencing while a student at McMaster University. After a move to Kingston he became involved in coaching at the Royal Military College of Canada, where he became Head Coach in 1995. During this time he obtained his NCCP Level 3 certification, as well as being twice named Ontario University Athletics (OUA) Coach of the Year.

A job change brought Michael to Newmarket in 1998 and he worked with the Newmarket Parks and Recreation department to establish a local fencing program. Although with primarily a recreational focus, Newmarket fencers have represented Canada at World Championships, and obtained fencing scholarships to US universities.

In 2013 Michael was named Coach of Team Ontario for the 2013 Canada Summer Games, and helped the team to its best ever showing. Michael still is an active competitor, recently representing Canada at the 2019 World Veterans Fencing Championships, and was a member of the gold medal men’s epee team at the 2018 Commonwealth Veterans Championships held in Canberra, Australia.

Here is an article published by McMaster University about Coach Mike's recent accomplishments. Click here to read the article.