Raine Paul Steps Down as Tsunami Head Coach

With a heavy heart and a grateful spirit, the Edmonton Tsunami Water Polo Club would like to thank our Head Coach, Raine Paul, who has announced she will be stepping back as head coach at the end of the season. Tsunami has been so fortunate to have a powerful and dedicated visionary like Raine for the past six seasons. During this time Raine has led the club to new heights and is leaving big shoes to fill as she looks to pursue other career opportunities. Raine’s commitment, passion and innovation has guided the club to many successes and we wish her all the best in her next chapter.

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Raine’s determination to create a strong water polo community in Edmonton and develop a high performance program that is highly respected across Canada was unwavering. Not only has Raine been a driving force in the success of Tsunami in recent years, but she was a key figure in the establishment of the Edmonton Riptides Water Polo Club in 2020. Since coming on board in 2015, Raine has guided the club to a membership growth of more than 300%, been the first (and only) coach to win a Western or National Championship medal for Tsunami, supported more than a dozen athletes advance to high performance programs (Team Canada, Team Alberta and NCAA/OUA Student-Athletes), established a vibrant Coach Mentorship Program and much more. Raine has created a culture of excellence at Tsunami and left a legacy that will continue to see success and growth for years to come.

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“Raine has left an impressive mark in Edmonton and impacted many athletes during her time with the club. Tsunami was fortunate to have Raine’s athlete-centric approach to building a team environment, commitment to challenging all young athletes to see themselves as outstanding, and positive impact on the lives of everyone fortunate enough to meet her. I am proud to have known Raine personally and am truly honoured to call her coach, mentor, leader and friend. Her legacy will continue because of the strong foundation she built. We wish her all the best and hope she knows the impact she has had on many members of our community.”

– Kelly Thorne, Edmonton Tsunami Club President

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In addition to her impact in Edmonton, Raine has been a trailblazer for female water polo coaches in Canada. Raine has worked diligently to break down barriers for females in coaching and is a passionate advocate for girls and women in sport. Raine has also been an excellent ambassador for the Edmonton community at the National Team level where she has been involved as a coach at the Youth, Junior and Senior levels.

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“I am very honoured to have acted as the Tsunami Head Coach for the past six seasons. The Tsunami community is something that I am, and always will be, very proud to be a part of. Thank you to all the remarkable athletes, coaches, volunteers, mentors, and families at Tsunami who have made my last six years so special. While this has been a very bittersweet decision for me, I can’t wait to see what the future holds for Tsunami and hope to continue to stay involved with the coaching staff moving forward.”

– Raine Paul, Edmonton Tsunami Head Coach (2015 – 2022)

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Raine will continue in her role as Head Coach until the end of the season (May 31) and will assist the club in the recruitment and transition to a new Head Coach. Tsunami plans to begin the recruitment process for this position in March 2022.

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Join Tsunami as we thank Raine for her many contributions and wish her the best of luck in her next chapter.