Original Story by Brandon Walker // Sootoday.com
'I was really pleased': Long-time curling coach receives an award
Tom Coulterman has played a central role in developing athletes locally, provincially and on the world stage
Tom Coulterman was recently named as the recipient of the 2026 Janet Arnott Exceptional Coach Award by the Women in Curling Executive Council.
"I was really surprised when I got it," Coulterman told SooToday by phone.
"I didn't know that was coming at all."
The award honours coaches who have made a lasting difference at the national and international levels. It commemorates the legacy of Janet Arnott, whose commitment to excellence helped elevate the profession of coaching in curling, a news release said.
Brad Jacobs presented Coulterman with the award on April 19.
He got to know Arnott when they both coached at the 2014 Olympics in Sochi, Russia.
"She was with the Jennifer Jones team and I was with the Jacobs team," Coulterman said.
"I was really pleased to be recognized that way."
Coulterman's coaching career spans more than five decades, beginning in 1974 and extending across every level of the sport, from school leagues to elite international competition.
Based in the Sault, he has played a central role in developing athletes locally, provincially and on the world stage.
His tenure as national coach and team leader for Canada's junior men's program from 1996 to 2008 stands out as one of the most successful runs in the program's history. During that period, Coulterman guided Canadian teams to eight gold medals and two bronze at the World Junior Curling Championships.
Coulterman worked with the Jacobs' rink in its early years, helping the team capture silver at the 2013 world championship and ultimately reach the top of the podium at the 2014 Olympics.
He was also presented with another memento – his own version of the Jacobs Way street sign that's now on display outside the YNCU Curling Club.
"Somebody said I should put it up in my driveway," he said.
Coulterman discussed his love of curling and described what has brought him back to the sport year after year.
"I love the strategy of the game. I love for some parts there are fitness aspects – especially if you're doing a lot of brushing.
"I love the precision that's involved with these high performance athletes. They can do things with those curling stones that I can never hope to do."
Coulterman also experienced challenges away from the curling rink. He fought pancreatic cancer in 2006, had a kidney removed in 2016 along with surgery to remove melanoma cancer that same year.
He was previously recognized with the 2013 Petro-Canada Coaching Excellence Award from the Coaches Association of Canada for his contributions to high-performance curling.
Three members of the 2014 Olympic gold-medal team were on hand to present Coulterman with the award to help celebrate a career defined by consistency, leadership and a lasting influence on generations of Canadian curlers.
