#CFCHSFB (ONT- OTTAWA): Tigers rookie coach Guillame building program destined for long term success

When Jean Guillame came to coach the St. Matthew Tigers’ football program this season he brought in a philosophy of academics first and football second. The result is the Tigers are 3-0 and the players feel like they are preparing to succeed in life on and off the football field.

Guillame became the coach of the Tigers and a teacher at St. Matthew just a week before the school year started. He came to the school to help register a young boy he was mentoring and when he heard the school was looking for a football coach he volunteered.

Within a week he had successfully interviewed for a teaching position and was named Head Coach of the football program.

Guillame has three goals for the Tigers’ this year. The first was to win a minimum of three games which they have already done. The second is winning the Tier Two Championship, a goal Guillame knows they will have to work for.

The final goal for the Tigers this season is the most important one for Guillame. He wants all of the players on his team to graduate. He laid out from the beginning of the season that school comes first and football second on his teams.

“The main reason why I coach is to integrate young men into society. It’s not for football. Football is mostly a tool,” said Guillame.

He works with his player’s one on one to ensure they are doing well in school. He runs study hall once a week where the team gets together in his room to do homework. He also checks in with the teachers on a regular basis to make sure his players are succeeding.

“When you have 46 or 47 players every kid counts. I spend time with every player and get to know them, teach them stuff, they know if they need something I’m there,” said Guillame.

Looking past this season and into the future Guillame wants the Tigers move up to Tier One. He felt they probably could have done so this year but he wants to move the program forward after building a solid foundation.

“I also want to bring back the culture and the long tradition of football that there is in this school. A lot of people that I talked to say that football has been a big part of this schools history and I want to bring that back,” said Guillame.

Here is Guillame addressing his troops at the end of a 2 and a half hour practice

Here is Guillame addressing his troops at the end of a 2 and a half hour practice

Guillame brings an extensive resume as a player, coach, and community figure to the Tigers. As a teenager he played for the St. Leonard Cougars (CJFL) under former Edmonton Eskimos General Manager Danny Maciocia. As well as the Sun Youth Hornets.

During his youth football career Guillame competed for Under-15 Team Quebec as a Free Safety and Under-18 Team Quebec as Running Back.

He started his post-secondary football career as Free Safety for the Vanier Cheetahs (CEGEP). In addition to playing football at Vanier Guillame began to get involved in community work. He was part of a city bike patrol unit, and helped out with Christmas food basket initiatives.

Guillame then played for the University of Montreal Carbains (RESQ). After two years he decided his to focus on his education. He switched schools and continued his Bachelors of Social Work at the University of Ottawa, eventually completing his Masters.

He went on to work as a school social worker. During this period decided he wanted to become a teacher so he could impact even more young lives. Guillame graduated from teacher’s college at the University of Ottawa last May.

His coaching resume is just as extensive as his playing and community involvement resume. He coached with the Sun Youth program while he was in Montreal and when he came to Ottawa was involved with the defunct Ottawa Colts.

Guillame coached with the Franco Cité High School and was a second team defensive coach with the University of Ottawa Gee Gees. He coached with the Ontario Prospects Challenge and ran clinics for coaches and players at Polyvalente-Nicola Gatineau and Glengarry District High School.

Guillame is not the only member of the St. Matthew team who is involved in something new this year. There are several players on the team who had never played a down of football before the season began. Quarterback Josh McGrath, Wide Receivers Drew Fletcher and Dondre Samuels, and Defensive End Mario Fica are four of these young men.

Dondre and Drew watched Friday Night Lights and were hooked within a few episodes, and they recruited Mario to try out with them. While Josh is a hardcourt baller transitioning to the gridiron.

“Coach Jean saw me playing basketball in the gym and he pulled out a ball and said let’s see what you got. He and I started throwing the ball around and he said I want you to be my starting Quarterback,” said the rookie pivot.

All four young men have played other sports before football, Drew played hockey, Dondre soccer and Mario basketball. The culture of a football has been eye-opening for all.

“In soccer its laidback, no one is really yelling, it’s a gentlemen’s game. In football it’s a hooligan’s game where you go crazy and let your spirit out, you shout and get amped,” said Dondre.

One aspect of football that all four cited as a great part of their new sport is the family oriented culture of the team preached by Coach Jean.

“Coach Jean really pushes the aspect of family, supporting each other through their ups and downs,” said Mario.

“Coach makes us eat together at lunch on game day and come early in the mornings. I feel like our chemistry is really getting up there and that helps us on the field,” said Dondre.

“Just going out there and playing with all your friends and having the time of your life. It’s my grade 12 year I want to make it the best year ever and I think starting with football is the best decision I’ve ever made,” said Drew.

“For me it’s the support. As quarterback if I throw a pick everyone’s just like shake it off, next drive were going to score a touchdown, everyone’s there to pick you up,” said Josh.

All four of these new players know that getting to be part of the rebuilding process at St. Matthew and a part the first crop of men influenced by Coach Jean’s academic first football second mentality is something special. Dondre and Drew called it a blessing and Mario likened it to the movie Coach Carter.

“You go out you see the movies and the football team is a big happy family that’s what we have. All 50 guys are one big happy family from our strongest player to our weakest player,” summarized Josh.

The Tigers are building something special they have a new coach, new players and are on a path to success. Come the end of the year they will be a team to watch for in the playoffs as well as on the Principal’s Honour roll.

 

 

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