Former high school football coach Kelsey McKay is facing new criminal charges, the Winnipeg Police Service revealed in a press conference on Monday.
McKay has been charged with sexual assault and luring a child under 18 and was released on crown consent with conditions. The charges were laid after investigators were contacted by an individual who alleged they were sexually assaulted by McKay while playing for his high school football team.
The 52-year-old was charged with 22 counts of various sexual crimes in April 2022 after eight individuals came forward with historical allegations against their former high school football coach. The charges included eight counts of sexual assault, seven counts of sexual exploitation, six counts of luring, and one count of sexual interference.
McKay coached at Churchill High School in Winnipeg for 19 years before starting the football program at Vincent Massey Collegiate in 2009. The Trojans are the reigning Manitoba High School Athletics Association Division One champions, defeating the Grant Park Pirates by a score of 25-2 in the championship game in November 2021.
Vincent Massey Collegiate in Winnipeg is not to be confused with Vincent Massey High School, which is located in Brandon.
The Winnipeg Police Service is currently in the process of creating a new presentation for parents, athletes, and athletics organizations designed to prevent sexual abuse in sports. The presentation can be booked using this link.
In the meantime, the police cautioned against coaches and athletes having one-on-one electronic communication, traveling together privately in a vehicle, socializing at a coach’s residence, sharing a private accommodation overnight, and engaging in physical contact for any reason other than to demonstrate proper technique once the athlete has provided consent.
Investigators have requested that anyone with information pertaining to the case contact the sex crimes unit at 204-986-6245. Anyone looking to take advantage of available resources can contact victim services at 204-986-6350 or the sexual assault crisis line at 204-786-8631.
