St. Mary’s University is proud to announce the appointment of Andrew Muir as the inaugural head coach of the Lightning badminton program.
St. Mary’s University is excited about the introduction of Badminton into its Varsity Sports offerings. Badminton is on the rise in the ACAC and St. Mary’s is excited to add an additional sport that appeals to another type of athlete. With the intention to grow and build a quality program that can compete at a high level and impact the ACAC we have found the right coach to do that in Andrew Muir.
A former international competitor and national champion, Muir brings a wealth of elite experience to the role. As a member of the Canadian National Team from 1985 to 1993, Muir competed across the globe, reaching a career-high world ranking of #28 in Men’s Doubles and capturing gold at the 1990 Canadian National Championships in Mixed Doubles. He was Canada’s top-ranked Mixed Doubles player from 1989 to 1991 and represented the country at the 1991 World Championships in Denmark.
Beyond his decorated playing career, Muir has been a certified Level 2 National Coach since 1983, contributing to Badminton Alberta and coaching athletes from grassroots to elite levels for more than four decades. His coaching journey has impacted players aged 5 to 60, consistently blending technical excellence with mentorship.
“We’re thrilled to welcome a coach of Andrew’s caliber,” said Lightning Athletics. “His experience, both as a world-class athlete and long-time coach, will build the foundation for a strong and competitive badminton program at St. Mary’s.”
Muir’s international resume includes appearances at the All England’s, French Open, Danish Open, Swedish Open, and nearly every major tournament across North America, Europe, and Asia. At the provincial level, he was Alberta’s top-ranked Men’s and Mixed Doubles player for five straight years.
With a deep passion for the sport and a commitment to developing athletes on and off the court, Andrew Muir is set to launch a new chapter of excellence with Lightning Athletics.