MEET OUR 2024 COACHES

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Noel Thomson - KOS-Mini and Kids of Steel Head Coach

Noel has been with the team for the last 4 years and has shown to be a positive, enthusiastic, knowledgeable leader and coach. Noel has other responsibilities so will coach when available. We have other coaches that are also athletes of the team that will coach when Noel is not available. Noel is a seasoned athlete at triathlon and long distance running. Noel has competed in Half Ironman, 100 Mile trail races, and many other formats over the years.

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Noel pictured with wife Stephanie and son

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David Hopton – High Performance Coach

David has been doing triathlon since 2001 and raced professionally from 2012-2018. He has competed in several races across Canada and the United States, and around the world in Hungary, Barbados and Tobago.  At McMaster University he trained closely with the Cross Country and Swim team, learning from great coaches, and trained with top pro’s such as Lionel Sanders, Andrew Yorke and Jackson Laundry during his career. In 2022 David was the Coach for Triathlon Canada at Junior Worlds where he supported Sage Sulentic, who was the fifth Ontario athlete to qualify for Junior-Elite worlds in the last decade. David coached the Triathlon Canada Development Camp in Montreal in 2024. David wants to help you become the best triathlete you can be, and learn some great life skills along the way.

Head Coach David Hopton’s Resume

• McMaster University Honours Kinesiology Graduate

• NCCP Competition Certified Triathlon Coach

• NCCP Fundamentals Swim Coach Certified

• Accredited Coach for Junior Elite Worlds and U23 MTR World Championships

• Coached two of six qualified Canada Summer Games Ontario athletes and the top Male and Female at Elite Provincials in 2022 and 2023

• Bronze Medalist 18-19 Age Group World Championships, Standard Distance, 2010, Budapest, Hungary, 3 Time Age-Group Triathlon National Team Member

Coach David with a few of our Junior-Elite Athletes

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Mat Reid – Head Coach 

Mat is a former competitive swimmer (1989-1998) competing Nationally in the 1500 Free, 400 IM and 400 Free. Mat made the switch to triathlon in 1998. In 1999 Mat started the Hamilton Hammerheads and grew it to a full-time career of coaching. Mat raced Elite from 2001-2004 and was on the National Team from 2000-2010 (11 years). In 2006 Mat opened a retail store in Waterdown called Runner’s Den. In 2008 Mat started the Fighting Koalas Triathlon Team. Mat closed Runner’s Den in 2014 to turn 100% of his focus back to the Hammerheads and Koalas, as well as his family or 3 kids and wife Lauren. Mat is the owner of the team.

Head Coach Mat Reid’s Resume

• Mohawk College graduate for Architectural Technician (1998-2000) and Business (2004-2006)

• 11-Time National Team Member (2000-2010)

• 4 Age-Group podiums at The World Championships (2004, 2005, 2009, 2010).

• 4-Time Canadian World Championship Age Group Coach (2007-2010)

• 4-Time Age Group National Champion (2005, 2006, 2007, 2017)

• 5-Ironman’s completed and 12 Half Ironman’s.

• 215 completed Triathlons since 1998

• Founded the Hammerheads in 1999, and the Fighting Koalas in 2008

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Team Owner Mat Reid

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Noel, David and Mat’s Coaching Philosophy

Our goal is to make each athlete the best they can be in the long term and get what they want out of this great sport. The best way to do this is to keep it fun so athletes don’t get burnt-out and can enjoy Triathlon as the life-time sport it can be. Specifically, this includes a big focus on technique and skill development at a young age when it is easiest to improve. As athletes get older, training certain energy systems (eg. VO2 max and Threshold) become of more importance, as well as putting in lots of easy aerobic hours to improve endurance and efficiency. 

As coaches, we believe we have the knowledge and the dedication to make our athletes reach their potential. We give plenty of motivation and encouragement but we believe the determination and drive has to come from the athlete for them to have long-term success in the sport. As coaches we do our best to foster a team culture that will drive you to be the best person and athlete you can be. As we are still triathletes ourselves, we hope we can lead by example with our dedication to the sport. We hope that everyone we coach can have fun, and make lasting friendships, while learning about the rewards of perseverance and skills.

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Noel Thomson signing his contract with the team that keeps him with us through Sept 30th, 2024

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David Hopton signing his contract with the team that keeps him with us through Sept 30th, 2026

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