The Canadian Premier League (CPL) announced on Friday the three nominees for the 2026 Coach of the Year award, presented by STACKTV, recognizing the coaches whose leadership and contributions best shaped their clubs’ performances throughout the 2026 CPL Regular Season.
The winner will be decided through voting by technical leadership from all eight CPL clubs as well as by select media members, representing local and national outlets, who consistently covered the 2026 CPL Regular Season. The winner will be revealed at the 2026 CPL Awards ceremony on Thursday, Nov. 19.
Voting for the CPL’s Coach of the Year award is based on performances during the 2026 Regular Season, not including the TELUS Canadian Championship, Concacaf Champions Cup or the 2026 CPL Playoffs.
Wheeldon Jr. guided Cavalry FC to the top of the CPL standings in 2026, securing the club’s third Regular Season title with a league-best 60 points and an 18-6-4 record. Under his stewardship, Cavalry led the league in wins (18), goals scored (58) and assists (39), while posting a league-best goal differential of +35. The Calgary-based side also recorded a league-high 11 home victories and tied for the most away wins (7), demonstrating its consistency throughout the campaign. Wheeldon Jr.’s 64.3 per cent win rate was the highest among coaches who led their teams through all 28 regular season matches. This is his fifth career nomination for the Coach of the Year award. He previously won the award in 2019 and 2023.
The winner of the Coach of the Year award will receive a unique piece of Inuit soapstone art, conceptualized by artist Palaya Qiatsuq and carved by Ruben Komangapik. The Owl statue symbolizes wisdom, guidance and knowledge, while its heightened vision gives it the ability to see what others cannot. The Coach of the Year requires similar attributes to earn the honour.