Dennis Barrett has served as the McGill University track and field coach since 1984 with the exception of a one-year sabbatical in 1985 when he competed as an athlete for Canada on the international bobsled circuit.
Entering his 36th season as a McGill coach in 2020-21, Barrett, is also in his 33rd year as coach of the University's cross-country running team, a position he has held since 1988.
After becoming the school's first All-Canadian athlete in track, he has since coached 42 All-Canadians in track and 20 more in cross-country at McGill.
In track, he has been named the Quebec university conference coach-of-the-year 23 times, guiding McGill to 17 Quebec women's championships and six men's titles.
In cross-country, he has been named the Quebec university conference coach-of-the-year 35 times, guiding McGill to 25 women's banners and 10 men's titles.
A certified strength and conditioning specialist (CSCS), he also holds a certificate in speed, agility and conditioning (SAC). In addition, Barrett served several years as the strength and conditioning coordinator for the McGill Athletics & Recreation. Barrett has served as a fitness consultant for the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, and has also worked as a regional recruiting coach with Bobsleigh & Skeleton Canada.
A 62-year-old native of Kingston, Jamaica, Barrett was raised in Dollard des Ormeaux, a suburb of Montreal. He attended Lindsay Place high school and John Abbott College, before receiving a track & field scholarship to New Mexico State University. In 1979, he transferred to Austin Peay State University in Tennessee and graduated magna cum laude in 1981 with a bachelor's of science degree in health sciences and physical education.
Barrett transferred to McGill in 1981 and the following year, he led the school to the conference's track & field title and qualified for the CIAU national championships in Toronto. He earned All-Canadian status after winning silver in the 600m at the Nationals. A team captain and MVP that season, he set a number of school track records, including one in the 4x200m relay which still stands, some more than three decades later (1:27.92).
He has served as a personal trainer to numerous athletes, including Olympic gold medalists Jamie Salé & David Pelletier (Salt Lake City Winter Games) plus top-ranked Canadian tennis players Greg Rusedski, Martin Laurendeau, and Stephane Bonneau, Olympic track star Rosie Edeh (finished 5th in 400m hurdles at Atlanta Summer Games) and McGill Hall of Fame distance runner Sarah Ali-Khan, who went to compete at the world cross-country championships.
Barrett has also served as a personal trainer for hockey players Mike Robeiro (NHL) and Mathieu Darche (NHL), plus numerous professional football players, including NFL veterans J.P. Darche, Tommy Kane and Randy Chevrier. Others in the CFL include Samir Chahine, Dan Pronyk, Tim Fleiszer, Denis Montana, Steve Young, John Macdonald, Rob LeBlanc, Mike Mahoney and Greg Hetherington.
Updated: June 24, 2020
