U of R coach fired, suspended from university sports over misconduct, grooming

After multiple accusations of inappropriate conduct – and what the Athletics Canada commissioner called grooming – the University of Regina fired Wade Huber, the head coach of the Cougars cross-country and track teams.

Huber was let go by the school in October of 2022 after the allegations were raised, but details didn’t surface until this week when Athletics Canada’s commissioner, Hugh Fraser, released his organization’s report on Huber.

University spokesperson Paul Dederick said the school conducted its own investigation at the time, and the Athletics Canada inquiry was initiated later.

“Our top priority is the health, safety and well-being of our student athletes. We continue to encourage student-athletes to come forward if they are the subject of – or witness to – inappropriate behaviour and wish to assure them that they will be supported,” Dederick said in a statement.

According to the executive summary of the commissioner’s decision, the investigation was initiated by a whistleblower who filed a code-of-conduct complaint. A third-party investigator examined six allegations against Huber, three of which were found either to be unsubstantiated or didn’t violate the code of conduct.

The allegations that were found to have merit and violate the codes of conduct include that Huber created a negative atmosphere by demonstrating preferential treatment toward a group of women on the team, and allegations about the nature of his relationships with athletes.

Those relationships included texting, long late-night phone calls, asking them to babysit his kids and becoming close with their families.

“(The behaviour) clearly blurs the lines between what is acceptable in a coach/athlete relationship and what is not,” read the commissioner’s decision.

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The commissioner also found Huber made inappropriate comments about female athletes’ bodies and clothing, including their bras, and he admitted to complimenting one athlete on the fit of her sports bra.

“(Huber) should have been aware that under no context would such a comment be appropriate for a male coach to make to one of his female athletes,” wrote Fraser.

The commissioner also found that Huber likely took an inappropriate photo of one of the female athletes he was coaching, which Fraser called a very serious allegation.

“The witness who discovered this photo did not harbour any resentment towards (Huber) but was nevertheless upset about what she had inadvertently stumbled upon on his phone,” explained the commissioner.

In his conclusion, Fraser said a person can be a caring and successful coach without crossing boundaries like Huber did. He said Huber violated codes of conduct and that his behaviour constituted grooming, as well as psychological and sexual maltreatment.

“Wade Huber is therefore suspended until further notice, from participation, in any capacity, in any program, practice, activity, event, or competition organized or sanctioned by Athletics Canada or any of its members or affiliates,” read the decision.

Huber won’t be able to apply for reinstatement until September 2030.