Pat Tracey enters his fifth season as the defensive coordinator with the UBC football program. He was a defensive assistant on the 2015 Vanier Cup championship squad.
A 3-time Vanier Cup champion, Tracey continues the strong tradition of Thunderbird defensive units. A Hardy Cup finalist in 2017 and 2018, Tracey has had multiple Canada West conference statistical leaders. His defensive players have earned several individual honours: 19 invites to the CFL combine, 16 CFL draft picks, 12 conference all-Stars,12 invites to the U SPORTS East-West Bowl, and 9 U SPORTS All-Canadians. In addition, Connor Griffiths (DL) and Ben Hladik (LB) were invited to the NCAA/NFL College Gridiron Showcase. Stavros Katsantonis (DB), Isaiah Joseph (LB), Hladik, and Griffiths have represented Canada’s National Junior Team at the International Bowl and World Championships, respectively.
The 2021 CFL Draft saw the Thunderbirds lead the Canada West in defensive player selections for the third consecutive year as Nick Cross (LB) 1st Rd. 9th overall-HAM, Ben Hladik (LB) 3rd Rd. 22nd overall-BC, and Elliot Graham (LB) 4th Rd. 29th overall-CAL were all chosen.
Prior to UBC, Tracey spent over a decade with Queen’s (OUA), where he served as defensive coordinator, special teams coach, and recruiting coordinator. His work was instrumental in leading Queen’s to an undefeated regular season in 2008 and winning the 2009 Vanier Cup. His defensive units have been ranked No. 1 multiple times including 2011 when the Gaels defence did not concede a single rushing touchdown in the regular season. Tracey’s overall defensive record includes: 142 career wins, 100 conference All-Stars, 97 Academic All-Canadians, 38 CFL draft picks, 37 All-Canadians, 14 career shutouts, 12 number one ranked conference units, and 11 conference award winners including Canada West Defensive Players of the Year Stavros Katsantonis (’17) and Ben Hladik (’18).
He has coached at the U SPORTS East-West Bowl game, serving as a defensive coordinator and a special teams coordinator. He was defensive coordinator for Team Ontario-East at the Football Canada Cup and was the special teams coach for the gold medal winning Team Canada at the 2007 Global Football Championships in Miami, Florida. He also served as special teams and defensive backs coach for Canada at the 2011 IFAF Sr. World Football Championships in Vienna, Austria, winning silver.
Prior to joining Queen’s, Tracey coached with the Guelph Gryphons (OUA) from 1987-97 and 1999, as both the defensive coordinator and special teams coordinator. He coached in three Yates Cup finals with the Gryphons, winning two. Tracey was also the special teams coordinator in the CFL with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and the Hamilton Tiger-Cats (’98 Grey Cup finalist).
Tracey started at defensive back from 1982 through 1986 with the Guelph Gryphons, winning the Vanier Cup in 1984. He set the school record for most games played in a career (51), longest fumble return (63 yards), ranks second in games started (49), was a team captain (’86), most improved player (’82), and was named to the 1980s team of the decade at corner back. He was inducted into the Quinte West Sports Hall of Fame in 2016. He is a member of the University of Guelph HOF (’94) with the 1984 Vanier Cup championship team and the (’20) Queens Football HOF as part of the 2009 Vanier Cup championship team.
Pat, his wife Denise, daughters Devon, Darby, and their dog “Hardy” live in Delta.
