Frank Halligan

Biography:

Kingston native Frank Halligan has been involved in coaching and sports administration in Kingston for six decades.

First excelling as a multisport athlete at Regiopolis Notre Dame before attending Queen’s University, but it was during his career as an educator that Frank began his commitment to becoming a coach, official, mentor, sport organizer and community volunteer.

Frank coached in Kingston from 1974 to 2009. He has been involved in club sports, high school sports, and Queen’s University athletics. During his 32-year teaching career Frank organized tournaments, convened competitions, and coached over 60 teams. Frank led his teams to high school championships in rugby, basketball, and football. He also coached track and field, girls touch football, and was the organizer for the school intramural sports programme. Frank fully understood the importance of fostering the values of leadership, equity, inclusivity, and respect in everyone he taught in the classroom and on the sports courts and fields.

From 2010 to 2022, Frank was the Athletic Coordinator of the Kingston and Area Secondary Schools Athletic Association and convened 12 sports over fall, winter and spring seasons for 13 high schools. His duties included developing schedules, communicating with coaches and referees and arranging playing fields. He played a representative role on the Eastern Ontario Secondary School Athletic Association Board of Directors and the Ontario Federation of Athletic Coordinators. Frank led the development of return to play protocols both locally and provincially to ensure safe resumption of sport coming out of the Covid-19 pandemic.

He has received many awards including Investors Group “Volunteer Sports Administrator Award,” Padre Laverty Award for outstanding service to Queen’s University and the Kingston Community; the Barry C. O’Connor Excellence in Support Staff Award by the Limestone District School Board; the Pete Beach Award by the Ontario Federation of School Athletic Association and EOSSAA for dedication to high school sport; the “Leadership in School Sport Award” by OFSAA.

In 2003 and 2009 Frank was awarded the Kiwanis Club of Kingston Builder’s Award; the Queen’s Gaels’ Assistant Coach “Builder of Men Award” and has been inducted into the Regiopolis-Notre Dame Sports Hall of Fame.