SquashTalk> Features >Player Profiles >Hall of Fame >Jack Fairs

Jack Fairs: Four Decades of Coaching at Western Ontario

Won 31 Ontario Team Titles, Coached Mohtadi, Dulmage, Stonburgh ...

SquashTalk Player Profiles

SQUASHTALK   PLAYER PROFILES
	Profile Index PSA players WISPA players Hall of fame players College players Junior players Teaching pros Player of the month Player Video Interviews

March 20, 2004, By SquashTalk © 2004 SquashTalk

Jack Fairs was elected to the CSA Hall of Fame in 2004. He is still coaching the UWO Team.

Jack Fairs: Perennial Presence at UWO

Jack Fairs has worked at the University of Western Ontario for over half a century as a teacher, mentor, researcher and coach. He is well known and respected for his extensive contributions in physical education and coaching, particularly in the sport of squash. He retired in 1988 but still continues to coach squash at his alma mater where he is professor emeritus of kinesiology.

Commitment to coaching has been a hallmark of his distinguished career. Incredible as it may seem today, he played and coached five sports during his lifetime: football, basketball, baseball, tennis, and squash. Even more he produced nationals champions in tennis, football and squash. In squash, for example, CSA Hall of Famer Phil Mohtadi won three Canadian Open hardball championships (1976, 1977, 1980) and Scott Dulmage won the US National hardball championships (1988). Both Mohtadi (1976) and Dulmage (1989) won the US Intercollegiate championships. Cornell coach Scott Stoneburgh captured three Canadian Open Hardball Championships (1991,1992,1993).

Squash-at-large knows Jack best for the record setting play of the UWO squash team. Since 1970 his teams have won 31 team titles and 21 singles titles in Ontario University Athletics (OUA) play. Their record of 21 consecutive team and 31 titles overall make them the most successful team in UWO history.

During his tenure UWO has ranked in the upper echelon of US intercollegiate squash. It won team titles (in 1977 and 1980) and singles titles in 1976 (Phil Mohtadi) and 1989 (Scott Dulmage). Team members have earned All-American honors and have been named to numerous All-Tournament teams. It is recognized that membership in this association has profoundly influenced the quality and vitality of the UWO squash program.

Fairs’ honors and awards document his commitment to excellence in coaching and in promoting the game of squash. Among them are the 1979 Distinguished Service Award of the Canadian Squash Racquets Association, the 1984 Special Achievement Award of Squash Ontario, the 1986 Distinguished Service Award of Squash Canada for outstanding contributions to the Promotion and Development of Squash in Canada as a Coach, the 1991 Sportsman of the Year Award for the City of London, the 1993 Special Citation of Squash Canada for contributions to the hardball game. Canada officially designated 1989-90 as the Year of the Coach. In recognition of his work, Fairs received various awards including the Dedicated Coaching Service Award of Squash Canada, the 2M Coaching Canada Award and the Canadian Football League (CFL) medallion and Coaching Achievement Certificate. In 1997 NISRA established Lifetime Achievement Award. Jack Fairs was the first recipient. Jack’s multi-sport career has already conferred him Hall of Fame recognition. Inductions include “W” Club Hall of Fame (1991), London Sports Hall of Fame (2002) and Chatham Sports Hall of Fame (2003).

On receiving word of this award, Fairs said, “I have always cherished my association and friendship with CSA and its coaches. The organization has enhanced the development of intercollegiate squash and provided opportunities for its student/athletes to be involved in a lifetime sport. To be recognized by this fine organization for my years as a coach at The University of Western Ontario is indeed very special. I am very appreciative of this award and honoured to be added to such a distinguished list of past recipients”.

As a teacher and coach, Jack Fairs, has few equals. His work has enriched the lives of countless student/athletes. Plato said “those having torches will pass them onto others” and Jack has done that with enthusiasm and dedication. He has been a role model, par excellence, for aspiring teachers and coaches and continues his commitment to advancing the game of squash.

Honors and Awards Given to Jack Fairs:

1979 Distinguished Service Award of the Canadian Squash Racquets Association

1984 Special Achievement Award of Squash Ontario

1986 Distinguished Service Award of Canadian Squash Racquets Association for outstanding contributions to the Promotion and Development of Squash in Canada as a Coach

1989 (Year of the Coach)
Medallion and Coaching Achievement Certificate of the Canadian Football League in recognition of the Year of the Coach

3M Coaching Canada Award

1990 Dedicated Coaching Service Award of Squash Canada

1991 “W” Club Hall of Fame (builder legend)

Sportsman of the Year Award for the City of London

1993 Special Citation of Squash Canada for contributions to the hardball game

1997 National Intercollegiate Squash Racquets Association (NISRA) Lifetime Achievement Award (first recipient)

(photos anyone? Please send to editor@squashtalk.com or to SquashTalk, 409 Massachusetts Ave, Acton MA 01720.

Squashtalk.com All materials © 1999-2005. Communicate with us at info@squashtalk.com.
Published by Squashtalk LLC, 409 Massachusetts Ave, Suite 102, Acton, MA 01720 USA, Editor and Publisher Ron Beck,
Graphics editor Debra Tessier Send comments, ideas, contributions and feedback to the webmaster.
Copyright © 1999-2005 SquashTalk, all rights reserved, may not be reproduced in any form except for one-time personal use.