Coach Mark Martynyshyn
Mark has dedicated his life to competitive sport, athlete development, and educational leadership. A passionate and accomplished multi-sport athlete turned coach, Mark brings over 25 years of experience teaching and coaching across a variety of disciplines and competitive levels. His athletic journey began with high-level involvement in AAA and Junior Hockey and Rep Soccer. However, a serious hockey injury that required two surgeries brought an end to his contact sport career. In the wake of that setback, Mark shifted his focus—not only to racquet sports, which would become a lifelong passion, but also to academics. He excelled in his studies and was awarded numerous prestigious scholarships throughout his university career.
Following his recovery and rehabilitation, Mark immersed himself in racquet sports such as tennis and badminton, and later added squash and table tennis to his repertoire. He rediscovered his competitive drive, participating in local, regional, and provincial tournaments and ultimately training for Racketlon, a demanding sport that combines all four racquet disciplines. His dedication paid off as he rose to become ranked fourth in Canada. Although he stepped back from competition over the past decade, he returned to the court in 2024 to win the Ottawa Open in the Over-45 Division—a spontaneous entry made to support his daughter, who was competing in the U18 category.
In addition to these achievements, Mark has also taken up Pickleball, competing over the past six years and winning a couple of regional tournaments. His lifelong passion for sport has always been about more than winning. Mark believes strongly in the value of developing transferable athletic skills through multi-sport training, an approach that shapes both his personal athletic philosophy and his coaching methods.
Mark began his coaching career early, assisting with hockey and soccer practices at the age of 15 and taking on head coaching duties by 18. This natural leadership ability carried over into his professional life. He holds a Bachelor of Science, a Bachelor of Education, and a Master of Urban and Regional Planning. For the past 25 years, he has taught at the high school level, where his creativity and commitment to student development led to the creation of several innovative and interdisciplinary programs, including the Natural Resource Management Program in Bancroft, the HALO (Healthy and Active Learning at OASIS) initiative in Orillia, and the GEOSCI Integrated Program at Innisdale Secondary School in Barrie.
Throughout his teaching career, Mark has also coached a wide range of high school sports, including hockey, soccer, tennis, badminton, pickleball, and cross-country skiing. His dedication and expertise have helped numerous student-athletes reach the OFSAA level of competition. In 2023, he was selected as the head coach for the Georgian Bay District Badminton Association team that represented the region at the Ontario Winter Games in Petawawa, ON. In 2024, he took on a leadership role as the lead convenor for OFSAA Badminton, successfully securing the bid and organizing the championship event in Barrie, Ontario. In recognition of his outstanding contributions to school sport over the past 25 years, he was honored with the OFSAA Leadership in School Sport Award.
Mark holds NCCP coaching certifications in both badminton and tennis and is certified in CPR and First Aid. He currently serves on the boards of the Georgian Bay District Badminton Association and OMTC, where he has also been Head Coach for the past six years. His coaching philosophy emphasizes holistic athlete development, focusing on physical performance, mental resilience, and the long-term benefits of multi-sport involvement. With a rich background as a high-level athlete, educator, and coach, Mark continues to inspire athletes to reach their full potential, both on and off the court.