Rattlers hire new soccer coach

By RYAN MCCRACKEN on April 8, 2021.

rmccracken@medicinehatnews.com@MHNMcCracken

After 17 seasons with the University of New Brunswick Reds, Miles Pinsent is taking on a brand new challenge with the Medicine Hat College Rattlers.

MHC announced Wednesday that the longtime men’s soccer coach has signed on to serve as head coach of the Rattlers men’s and women’s futsal and soccer programs, as well as executive director of the Medicine Hat Soccer Association. It’s a hefty workload, but Pinsent says he’s up to the task.

“Being responsible for that many student-athletes and making those connections and developing those relationships, that’s going to be a challenge, for sure,” Pinsent said in a phone call with the News. “Just the time management side of things, of being in charge of two programs, will definitely be an adjustment for me, but I’ll be relying on the athletes and leaders of those teams to help me with that transition.”

Over his 17-year tenure with UNB, Pinsent coached the Reds to four Atlantic University Sport championships, as well as silver and bronze-medal finishes at U Sports national championships.

That success brought Pinsent his share of accolades as well, earning AUS coach of the year honours on three occasions and national coach of the year in 2012. But when those accolades were brought up in conversation, Pinsent made a point of brushing the past aside in favour of his future.

“I’m more focused on my future in Medicine Hat than I am on perhaps what I’ve done in the past,” said Pinsent, who parted ways with UNB last March. “I look forward to growing the Rattlers program and growing the sport of soccer in Medicine Hat.”

As for his role as MHSA executive director, Pinsent – who also spent time as executive director of the Fredericton Boys and Girls Club – says being a positive force in the community has always been an important aspect of his role in soccer.

“I’ve always tried to find work that has meaning within the community, and find ways to make those connections – in particular with the development of youth, and in a lot of cases the development of soccer youth,” he said, adding UNB regularly partners with local soccer associations and programs. “It’s something I think is really important in order to continue to grow the game. I look forward to doing the same type of work in Medicine Hat.”

As the son of two Alberta-born parents, Pinsent says he has been to Medicine Hat before – but it was a few decades back.

“We used to do lots of travelling when I was a child and we went through there. But I think maybe the last time was when I was five or six years old,” said Pinsent, who was born in B.C. but grew up on the East Coast.

“We lived in Prince Edward Island for a while then have spent the last 30 years in New Brunswick.”

That being said, Pinsent does come with a local connection in having coached Hatter Ryan McDonald, who spent time with the Rattlers before joining UNB.

“Everyone I know associated with Medicine Hat have all been great people so I look forward to getting out there and meeting everyone,” he said.

Pinsent says he is working through the details of relocating to Medicine Hat for early May, but will immediately begin connecting with members of the soccer community and working remotely as much as possible.

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