Pat Tracey enters his sixth 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, he has guided the T-Birds to two Hardy Cup finals and a number one overall ranking in 2017. During his time at UBC, T-Bird defenders have had 22 invites to the CFL combine, 13 invites to the East-West Bowl, along with 12 conference all-Star selections, and 9 all-Canadians. The 2022 CFL Draft added to the Thunderbirds' lead in Canada West for most defensive players selected (19) since 2016. Daniel Kwamou (LB) was chosen in the 5th round, 44th overall by the Toronto Argonauts and Jaxon Ciraolo-Brown (LB) in the 8th round, 73rd overall by the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.
Prior to UBC, Tracey spent over a decade with Queen’s (OUA), where he served as defensive coordinator, special teams coach, and recruiting coordinator. He was part of three OUA coaching staff of the year honours in 2001, 2007 and 2008, the last of which included national recognition. His work was instrumental in leading Queen’s to an undefeated regular season in 2008 and winning the 2009 Vanier Cup. The Gaels ranked number one in pass defence six times and had eight top ranked run units. In 2011 the Gaels defence did not concede a single rushing touchdown in the regular season and shut-out the CIS number one ranked Western Mustangs 37-0.
Tracey’s overall defensive rankings include: 145 career wins (2nd), 102 academic all-Canadians (1st), 100 conference all-Stars (1st), 40 CFL draft picks (1st), 37 all-Canadians (1st), 14 career shutouts (2nd), and 11 conference award winners (4th) including Canada West Defensive Players of the Year Stavros Katsantonis (’17) and Ben Hladik (’18).
He has coached in the U SPORTS East-West Bowl game, Football Canada Cup, Global Jr. Football Championships, the IFAF Sr. World Football Championships and the Grey Cup.
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 (’92,’96). Tracey was also the special teams coordinator in the CFL with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers (’14) and the Eastern Conference Champion Hamilton Tiger-Cats (’98).
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), and ranks second in games started (49). He received the most improved player award (’82), was a co-captain (’86), and was the football nominee for the W.F Mitchell Sportsman of the Year (’86). He was also named to the 1980s all-Decade team at corner back.
Tracey is an honoured team member of the University of Guelph Sports Hall of Fame (’84) and the Queen’s Football Hall of Fame (’09), and is an individual member of the Centennial SS Sports Hall of Fame (athlete), and the Quinte West Sports Hall of Fame (athlete). On September 10th, 2022 he will be inducted into the Belleville Sports Hall of Fame as a builder.
Pat, his wife Denise, daughters Devon, Darby, and their dog “Hardy” live in Delta.
