Waterloo, ON - The Department of Athletics and Recreation is excited to announce the appointment of Ahmed Abdelkader as the new Squash Head Coach.  Abdelkader takes over as head coach after serving as an assistant coach during the 2021 and 2022 seasons while playing as a varsity athlete. 

"We are excited to have Ahmed become the Head Coach of our Squash team," said associate director, Brian Bourque. "Ahmed has been a great athlete in our program and has demonstrated natural leadership abilities. Ahmed is a high-energy, focused individual who appreciates the challenge of striving to excel in athletics and academics."

Abdelkader captained the men's squash team for three years and captured a bronze medal at the OUA 2023 Squash Championship. He also received the Jack Fairs Award, presented to one male and one female from the Jesters University League. The recipients of this award are extremely hard-working players who contribute the most to their team.

Ahmed's passion for sports extended beyond the court; he was a talented dual student-athlete at Waterloo, playing for the Warriors football team from 2019-2023. Ahmed's involvement in the Waterloo community didn't stop there. He has also made significant contributions off the field, including working with the Department of Athletics' Team-Up Community Outreach Program, which brings student-athletes into the community to speak to elementary-aged kids around the K-W Region. Additionally, Ahmed held a position as an executive member of the Interuniversity Student Council. As an upper-year mentor for first-year athletes in the Rise-Up program, Ahmed has been an invaluable asset to the Warriors community.

 "I am excited to bring my experience as a former player to this coaching role and hope to continue growing the team's success," commented  Abdelkader. " I am very committed to improving the student-athlete experience and laying the foundation for the program's future. We had great success last year, and I hope we can capture a championship title with our young and well-poised team."

Looking ahead to the 2023-2024 season, Ahmed has high hopes for the Squash program. The Men's team aims to capture another medal, while the Women's team has already produced a Rookie of the Year and All-Star in Niki Shemirani (Toronto/). The Men's team also boasts a Rookie of the Year and All-Star in Rayan Hashmi (Dhahran, Saudi Arabia/). As a former team captain, Ahmed has left a lasting impression on his players and will undoubtedly continue to be an asset to the program in the years to come as the head coach.