Winnipeg football community shocked, angered after coach charged with sexual assault

Many in Winnipeg's football community are feeling a range of emotions, after a high school gym teacher and football coached was charged with sexual assault this week.

Many in Winnipeg’s football community are feeling a range of emotions after a high school gym teacher and football coach was charged with sexual assault this week.

Kelsey Albert Dana McKay, 51, of Winnipeg was arrested Tuesday and charged with five counts of sexual assault, four counts of sexual exploitation, one count of sexual interference and four counts of luring.

He was arrested after five of his former students came forward with allegations of sexual assault that happened between 2004 and 2011, while they were students at Churchill High School and Vincent Massey Collegiate.

“Like anybody, I was shocked when you hear something like that, you can’t believe it,” Bradley Black told Global News. Black currently runs Recruit Ready, a high-performance football program that works with young athletes.

Black went to Oak Park High School, but was on a provincial football team coached by the accused in the late 1990s.

“Once the shock of it all kind of wears off you have some anger, disappointment, a lot of empathy for the victims in this obviously,” Black said, adding that there’s a similar sentiment among many in Winnipeg’s football community.

Black says while the incident is not isolated to football or athletics in general, it’s important for parents to be involved with their kids activities and pay attention to who their child trusts.

“Be involved in your kids sports as much as you possible can – Ask the right questions, know what’s going on, understand the dynamics between your son or daughter and their coaches,” he said.