Simon Fraser University has named decorated Indian-Canadian wrestler Nishan Randhawa as the new head coach of its women’s wrestling program, while veteran coach Gord Sturrock has been appointed mentor coach. The leadership duo will guide the Red Leafs through the 2026-27 university wrestling season, bringing together international competitive experience and decades of coaching expertise.
University officials said the appointments reflect SFU’s commitment to strengthening its women’s wrestling program. Randhawa’s success as an elite athlete, combined with his recent coaching experience at the university, and Sturrock’s long-standing record in athlete development are expected to provide student-athletes with strong technical and personal support.
A former SFU wrestler, Randhawa competed for the university from 2015 to 2020 before earning a degree in criminology in 2021. Over the past decade, he has represented Canada on the international stage, building an impressive resume that includes seven senior national titles. His career highlights feature a gold medal in the 97-kilogram division at the 2022 Commonwealth Games, a bronze medal at the 2023 Pan American Games, and another bronze at the 2025 Pan American Championships. Earlier in his career, he also claimed bronze at the 2015 World Junior Wrestling Championships.
Randhawa has spent the past two seasons coaching with the Red Leafs, progressing from volunteer assistant coach to lead assistant coach. Beyond the university, he has worked with the Guru Gobind Singh Wrestling Club in Abbotsford since 2015, helping athletes refine their techniques, prepare competition strategies, and improve overall performance through customized training and nutrition plans.
Speaking about his new position, Randhawa described the appointment as an honor and credited SFU with shaping both his athletic career and personal growth. He said his goal is to create an environment where athletes are challenged to achieve their best while receiving the support needed to develop confidence, resilience, and leadership beyond the wrestling mat.
Joining him is Gord Sturrock, an accomplished coach and educator whose wrestling career spans more than four decades. Sturrock has served as a volunteer coach with SFU since 2021 and previously worked with the program in the late 1990s. His extensive experience includes coaching Canadian national teams, mentoring high-performance athletes, and teaching sport science and physical education at the collegiate level.
Randhawa will officially begin his role on July 15, while Sturrock starts on August 1. Their first season together will open in November when SFU competes at Pacific University’s Mike Clock Open, marking the beginning of a new chapter for the university’s women’s wrestling program.
