The Halifax Wanderers are rounding out the football operations staff for the 2025 Canadian Premier League Season with the addition of two local coaches.

Jessie Burgins has been named an assistant coach for the Wanderers’ first team and will also be the head coach for the Wanderers U21 Team. Burgins holds a Canada A License and is the Executive Director for local club Suburban FC. A former AUS player for StFX, Burgins also spent several years developing elite talent at Ottawa TFC before relocating to Nova Scotia with his family.

Additionally, Alex Sheppard has joined the Wanderers as the club’s performance analyst. The Cape Breton native brings his extensive background in video analysis and was a member of the Wanderers U21 Team coaching staff in 2024. 

Previously, the Wanderers announced the additions of Giovanni Petraglia as assistant coach and Nick Edwards as the head of performance. Patrice Gheisar enters his third season as the Wanderers’ head coach. Jan-Michael Williams returns for his sixth season as Halifax’s goalkeeper coach and seventh season in total at the club.  

“The Canadian Premier League is about creating pathways to the professional game on and off the pitch, for domestic players and coaches as well as sports management staff across the industry,” Wanderers sporting director Matt Fegan said. “We pride ourselves on the composition of talent we have assembled, including local coaches as well as the team behind the team as we continue to create more opportunities for Atlantic Canadians to represent themselves on the national and international stage.”

Also returning for the 2025 season in new roles are Emma Parkington (Football Operations Manager), Will Harrison (Lead Athletic Therapist), Ben Rubinger (Equipment Manager) and Dr. Raphael Panais (Lead Physician). 

Parkington is the Executive Director of Dartmouth’s Storm Soccer Club and has shifted into her new role managing team logistics after joining the Wanderers in 2024 and playing a key role in the organization of the International Summer Series. Harrison, a graduate of Acadia University, will take on increased responsibility in supporting the Wanderers’ medical team. Rubinger, a Haligonian and former player at Halifax City and Saint Mary’s University, joined the Wanderers in 2023 as a member of the football development team, leading numerous soccer programs in the community.

Harrison and Dr. Panais will lead the team’s medical efforts with the support of consultants, including Dr. Paul Whatling (Chiropractic Care), Dr. Kory Arsenault (Physician), Dr. Nate Urquhart (Orthopaedic), Tyler Kent (Physiotherapy), as well as Dave Green & Catherine Grant (Massage Therapy). 

The Wanderers kick off the 2025 CPL season on Saturday afternoon against Atletico Ottawa. Halifax’s first home game is on April 19 (4:30 p.m. kickoff) against Pacific FC. Tickets are available by clicking here. 

2025 Halifax Wanderers Football Operations Staff

Head Coach: Patrice Gheisar

Assistant Coach: Giovanni Petraglia

Assistant Coach: Jessie Burgins

Goalkeeper Coach: Jan-Michael Williams

Head of Performance: Nick Edwards

Performance Analyst: Alex Sheppard

Sporting Director: Matt Fegan

Senior Football Strategy Advisor: Mark Watson

Football Operations Manager: Emma Parkington

Equipment Manager: Ben Rubinger

Lead Athletic Therapist: Will Harrison

Lead Physician: Dr. Raphael Panais