Port Moody’s Justin Abdou is the new head coach of the women’s wrestling team at Simon Fraser University. That’s in addition to his responsibilities with the men’s team, that he’s coached for almost 20 years.
Abdou, who won four National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics championships when he wrestled as a 177-pounder for SFU, as well as 11 Canadian titles and represented Canada in the 2000 Olympics, knows he’s stepping into some big shoes. He’s taking over the women’s program from Mike Jones, who retired last spring.
“I will do my best to continue to train and mentor our student-athletes in a way that would make Mike proud,” said Abdou, who was coached by Jones when he joined SFU’s wrestling program in 1989, then worked as his assistant beginning in 1994 until Jones left the program in his hands in 2001 so he could concentrate on creating and building the women’s team.
Indeed, Abdou is inheriting a top program that finished second at the WCWA national championships and includes two individual champions and eight all-Americans.
In the spring the team added five Canadian champions, including Coquitlam’s Jacqueline Lew, as well as two California state champions and another state champion from Washington. At the time Jones called it “the best recruiting class we have ever assembled.” He plans to continue to help out with the program as a part-time volunteer.
“I am truly honoured to have the opportunity to continue what Mike has built here at SFU,” Abdou said.
In addition to his coaching duties at SFU, Abdou also coached world cup teams in 2002, 2004 and 2007, as well as the Canadian national team at the world junior and world championships. He was also an assistant for Canada’s 2008 Olympic wrestling team.
“His coaching accolades are exceptional,” SFU’s athletic director Theresa Hanson said of Abdou’s appointment. “He is more than ready to take over the helm of the SFU wrestling program.
