The skip, now a coach, has been having some fun

Brendan Bottcher has been having some fun.

That fun will continue thanks to a new affiliation with a women’s team, plus that team’s skip in mixed doubles competition.

After getting turfed from his team in mid-April, the rumour mill speculated the 32-year-old Brier champion skip would end up leading Kevin Koe’s squad, with Koe himself shifting to fill Brad Jacobs’ spot with Team Reid Carruthers.

The latter move never happened, as Saskatchewan’s Caitlin Schneider was announced as Jacobs’ replacement.

What would Bottcher do?

Yesterday, the Edmonton competitor teased an announcement was imminent, and he was shown wearing a Harvard University T-shirt.

This was an obvious (and clever) homage to the Harvard university curling team account’s recent post, declaring he had signed with them.

Nice one, Bottch.

He kept us guessing … and we continue to guess despite today’s announcement: that Bottcher has joined Team Rachel Homan as coach and a mixed doubles partner.

“Having Brendan join our coaching staff is incredibly exciting,” Team Homan announced. “His experience, leadership, and strategy will undoubtedly elevate our game. With Brendan living in Edmonton near me, his continuous support will be invaluable both on and off the ice.”

This doesn’t prevent Bottcher competing in men’s play—with just two years to go until the 2026 Milano-Cortina Olympics—but there’s no word on his plans in that regard.

“This is an unbelievably talented group of curlers, and I am eager to provide strategic support in their quest for the Olympic gold medal,” said Bottcher in an online post.

Bottcher will also become Rachel Homan’s new partner for mixed doubles.

“I couldn’t be more excited to work hard with Brendan for the short season before the Mixed Doubles Trials,” said Homan. “We have similar work ethic and goals and I look forward to training in the same city.

“Competing together in Mixed Doubles and having Brendan on board as our four-person coach will also be an added advantage.”

“I have immense admiration for Rachel as both a friend and a competitor, and we are ecstatic about our Olympic journey,” added Bottcher.

Team Homan has experienced a revolving door of coaches over the years. Ottawa’s Earle Morris is the longest-serving coach, dating back to Homan’s bantam and junior days—at age five, in fact.

Recent coaches have included Adam Kingsbury, Richard Hart, Randy Ferbey, The Ferb’s longtime lead player Marcel Rocque, and most recently Don Bartlett.

Bartlett, a former coach of Bottcher’s men’s team, coached Homan to this past season’s stunning run to another world championship title.

“I am immensely proud of the team for their relentless dedication and unwavering work ethic throughout the past season,” Bartlett stated in the Homan announcement. “Being part of their journey, witnessing their historic achievements and, of course, winning my first world championship with such a talented team, was a true honour.

“As I step back from coaching to pursue personal travel, I will continue to support them wholeheartedly. Working with some of the best curlers of this generation in Team Homan and Brendan Bottcher is something that I will be forever grateful for. “

Bartlett, an Olympic finalist and two-time Brier champion with Kevin Martin, dictated a controversial strategy call during Team Homan’s Grand Slam final in late January.

Team Homan also announced that current alternate Rachelle Brown will stay on as women’s team alternate.