Olds College roughstock coach Tanner Gerlitz has been named the first-ever assistant coach of Team Canada for the Professional Bull Rider (PBR) Global Cup.
That five-nation competition will be held in Arlington, Texas, Feb. 15-16, 2020.
Gerlitz, who lives about 10 miles west of Innisfail, will be assisting head coach Scott Schiffner, PBR Canada’s first-ever national champion and Olympic bull rider.
Gerlitz retired in 2017 and began serving as an Olds College roughstock coach during the 2017-18 school year.
He won the 2006 Canadian bull riding championship and competed in the Canadian Finals Rodeo nine times. He also qualified for the PBR Canada finals six times.
Gerlitz rode with Schiffner in the PBR World Cup in 2007, 2009 and 2010. During his 2009 appearance, he stepped in as an alternate and went 2-for-2 to help Team Canada finish in third place.
His family provides the famous Girletz Rodeo Stock, which, over the years, has produced seven Canadian bulls of the year, along with many bulls that have been ridden in the PBR world finals.
Gerlitz is honoured to have been named an assistant coach of Team Canada.
"It's pretty special," he said during an interview with the Albertan.
"I was selected on three other occasions to go ride for Team Canada. We won second once and third once and fourth another time when I was down there, so to be able to come back as a coach after my career and be able to try to win the Global Cup, it's pretty special."
Gerlitz says Team Canada will consist of only six riders plus one alternate, so he and Schiffner are going to have a difficult time choosing who's on the team because he says the talent in Canada is as great as ever.
"All these guys are my friends as well, so to tell one guy that he can't go and tell another guy he can, it's going to be a little tougher, but that's the role we have to play and we've got to put together a team of guys that we know that can get along together and jive together and go win together," he said.
He said there's a good chance some Olds College alumni might make that squad.
Gerlitz has enjoyed his job as OC roughstock coach.
"It's been fun, you know, to be able to go in and help kids in the same way I wanted help when I was growing up. It means something to a guy," he said.
"If you've ever been around the sport of rodeo you know how close-knit everyone is. So to be able to help out when I can, it means a lot to me and enjoy the hell out of it."
Gerlitz says although Schiffner is the head coach and he is an assistant, they've both been working as kind of co-coaches. He figures as time goes on, his role will become more specific.
"I know the bulls a little better than Scott probably, so I can help the guys match up," he said.
"We'll get six bulls and six guys, so we get to match up what guy's getting what bull, it's not a random draw on this one, so I think that'll be my biggest attribute is being able to match the guys up with bulls that will suit them."
Gerlitz and Schiffner plan to finalize who's on the team some time this fall. Then there's a good chance they'll hold at least some practices at facilities in Olds College. When interviewed, he was working on making that happen.
"Last year, they gave us brand new bucking chutes in there and it's second to none," he said. "There's lots of places that can do it but it costs an arm and a leg, right? So this is kind of an affordable stop that has as good a facility as you can ask for."
He also said it's pretty central for the athletes.
Gerlitz says he'll probably utilize some of his experience teaching students when he coaches members of Team Canada, although likely in a different way. He admits his attitude has normally been "pretty laid back."
"That's all there is to it. You've got to lose before you can learn how to win. I'm damn sure not going there to lose, but if we go there and we get beat but we know we laid it all on the line, I'll still be proud of the guys," he said.
"I'll probably amp it up a notch, just because it's such a bigger level. I mean, it's bull riding; there's no such thing as a mediocre level. I mean, it's dangerous, no matter what way you look at it.
"But to be on a stage, a world stage, and have a chance to win for our country, I'm probably going to be a little more amped up than I am at the Tuesday night practice times. But it'll be fun and I can't wait."
