University of Manitoba Athletics

Claude Berubé enters his 29th year as head coach of the Manitoba Bisons track and field/cross country teams in 2025-26. He is a Bisons alum himself, having completed five years with the squad which included three trips to cross country nationals as well as the opportunity to run the 5k for track. 

Berubé’s coaching career at the U of M started in earnest around 1992. He was a physical education teacher and had been coaching track as well on the side. One of the students that he coached at Golden Gate, a gifted runner named Dean Gurney, put him on to a few more of his running buddies who were getting into university and the rest is history. Berubé has been around for a significant amount of memorable Bisons track and field moments, including winning the national championship on the men’s side with some excellent middle distance runners in 1995 and 1996. 

Other notable coaching moments for Berubé include the men's second place finish at nationals at home in 2024, along with winning four straight Canada West titles on the men’s side from 2021-25 (a historic first for the program), and back-to-back conference banners in 2007-08 and 2008-09, along with a second place finish for the women at nationals in 2005. With Berubé's guidance, the men's team have earned medals at nationals in three straight seasons from 2023-25 (bronze, silver, bronze), the best three-year result for the program in 29 years. 

Another highlight was witnessing his son Simon help bring home the gold in the men’s 4x800 metre relay at nationals in 2018-19 at the James Daly Fieldhouse. The latter of those accomplishments also helped the men's team return to the podium for the first time since 1996. 

With Berubé manning the ship, countless athletes have achieved national or international success either during or following their time with the Bisons.

Recent examples include Quin Ferguson and Victoria Robson, who finished third and tied for third in the 800-metre and pole vault respectively during the 2011 Canadian Senior National Championships. Additionally, Alhaji Mansaray, the senior men's record holder in high jump (2.20 metres) earned a bronze at the 2017 Jeux de la Francophone in Côte d’Ivoire, while Madisson Lawrence was named to the national team for the NACAC Combined Event Championships in 2022, and earned national champion status at Olympic Trials in 2024, scoring 5,566 points in the heptathlon. Daxx Turner also took home silver in the triple jump during the 2024 Olympic Trials.

Berubé – who is a level five NCCP coach – has also been recognized as a U SPORTS, Canada West, Athletics Manitoba and four-time Manitoba Bisons Coach of the Year. He's also represented Canada on the national stage as a coach on more than 20 different occasions. 

 Instagram: @umbisonstfxc