Stu Nixon, a well-known high school football coach in Winnipeg, has passed away.
He was best known for leading the Oak Park Raiders football team for two decades and playing a key role in shaping the careers of many young athletes like Brady Oliveira, Andrew Harris, Sean Jamieson, and Nic Demski, who made it to the CFL.
The Pembina Trails School Division, where he had been a trustee since 2022, confirmed his passing in a message.
Family And Friends Mourn The Loss Of Stu Nixon
The coach, Stu Nixon, is survived by his wife, Connie, and two daughters, Marina and Erica.
Blue Bombers running back Brady Oliveira shared how much Nixon meant to him, calling him one of the best coaches he ever had.
He said Nixon wasn’t just a coach, but also someone who supported him through personal challenges and acted like a father figure during tough times.
Similarly, Blake Collis thanked Nixon for the memories and lessons from their time together at Oak Park during high school football.
Blake also said he appreciated how Nixon stayed in touch even after their playing days were over.
Our football community recently lost a great coach, mentor and even greater person in Stu Nixon. Thank you for the incredible memories and life lessons during my time playing high school football at Oak Park. I always appreciated you keeping in touch with us especially after our football playing days into our adult lives. We lost a great one, you will be forever missed in the community. RIP Coach Nixon 💔 #whowebeOP
Blake Collins
Stu spent over twenty years living in Charleswood, where his two daughters, Marina and Erica, also attended and graduated from schools within the Pembina Trails School Division.
Moreover, Mike Kelly recalled a tough time in 2010 when he was at a low point in his life, having lost a job he valued and struggling with his mental health.
During that difficult period, Coach Nixon contacted him and invited him to help with the Oak Park football team.
Kelly attended practices regularly, assisting quarterbacks and receivers and offering advice.
Although Nixon wanted him to attend the games, Kelly chose not to, preferring to keep the attention on the players and avoid the media’s focus on his involvement.
Under Nixon’s leadership, Oak Park won the city championship, and Nixon gave Kelly a medal, which he still cherishes.
Also, Kelly recalled a meaningful conversation with Nixon and his wife, Connie, the previous winter, in which they spoke deeply about life.
Kelly expressed that the community felt different after Nixon’s passing and that the loss was not just for Oak Park or the WHSFL but for all of Winnipeg.
He concluded by saying how much he would miss his friend and thanking him for being the genuine person he was.
Rest In Peace, Coach.
