The Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) is proud to announce Alan Chow of the NAIT Ooks has been named the 2026 ACAC Badminton Coach of the Year.

Chow has built the NAIT Ooks badminton program into one of the premier programs in the conference and across the country. Under his leadership this season, the Ooks enter the ACAC Championships in first place in the conference standings and have held the No. 1 ranking in the CCAA national rankings throughout the year. His commitment to high-performance standards and athlete development has positioned NAIT as a national contender.

Alan's connection to the sport began at a young age while training at the Derrick Club, where he quickly rose to become one of Alberta's top junior players. He went on to compete provincially and at the Open and Masters levels, continuing to rank among Alberta's top athletes. As a collegiate competitor, Chow represented both NAIT and Concordia, qualifying for Nationals in each season and earning a silver medal finish.

His competitive experience has translated seamlessly into coaching. Over the years, Chow has developed athletes at both the junior and collegiate levels, training several of Alberta's top players, including a national champion. As head coach of the Ooks, he has cultivated a culture centered on development, teamwork, and excellence, while remaining deeply involved in supporting junior badminton across Alberta.

"Alan is very deserving of this award," said Jordan Richey, Director of NAIT Athletics and Recreation. "He puts in the work to establish a culture where student-athletes want to be. His dedication to the game of badminton is evident in everything he does. He is always trying to make the NAIT badminton program the best it can be. Alan is also heavily involved with junior badminton in Alberta. NAIT Athletics would like to congratulate Alan on this well-deserved award."

This prestigious award will be recognized at the 2026 ACAC Badminton Championship hosted by The King's University in Edmonton, Alberta.