Rebuilding a successful program at John Abbott

Just like any collegiate program, the Islanders are aiming to be back on top. Since their last trip to the Bol d’Or in ’02, in which they defeated the André-Grasset Phénix by the score of 32-7, they have not been able to come close to having the same success as they did that year. But optimism is slowly coming back to the program.
Read More: [URL]http://www.footbec.com/2010_Islanders_John_Abbott_Camp_and_Recruiting_08avr.htm

Since taking over the football team after the 2008 season, both head coach Justin McHugh and his brother Robbie (defensive/recruiting coordinator) have invested countless hours to try to find ways to turn the program back on the right track. With one full season under their belts, they now have a better idea of what needs to be done. Obviously, they have established a recruting scheme in order to achieve the goals they set out for their program. A mix of talented young athletes from the local scene, along with out of province athletes, just might be the key to getting back to where they want to be.
Robbie McHugh killed two birds with one stone recently, after we asked him some questions in regards to the Islanders program. He took some time to sit down for an interview for his school paper, and the result serves the dual purpose for the school and our needs. Here is the article that will come out shortly at John Abbott College.

2010 RECRUITING OVERVIEW
In your first year taking over the football program at John Abbott, was 2009 what you expected?
Knowing the state of the program that we took over, we are comfortable in saying that the 2009 season was a huge success. Our goal for 2009 was to simply change the culture surrounding the football program at John Abbott. We are now a program in which kids and coaches involved know that football is a 12-month commitment. A program in which everyone involved is working together, to get better on a constant basis.
How was recruiting for 2010?
Recruiting for the 2010 season has been a great success. We have been actively recruiting for 2010 since June of 2009. As a result, we are expecting a very, very competitive spring camp with kids coming to campus from across Canada.
Where did you focus your recruiting?
It is no secret that any successful football program has to have a solid foundation in recruiting local players and coaches. This is something that is going to take time to build. And knowing that the Cegep school and football system has many advantages to offer out of province athletes, we split our focus equally between local and out of province players for 2010.
What advantages can you offer recruits at Abbott?
Equally as important to our staff as winning and building a successful program is the fact that it is also our job to provide our players with as many options as they deserve when it comes to moving onto the next level. Since our season ended, we have had 9 different CIS teams from outside Quebec on our campus to speak to some of our graduating players. We have been told by each of these teams that we are the only English Cegep in our area that is actively promoting their graduating players to these CIS teams.
What were your priorities in recruiting for 2010?
The reality is that we were a 3-6 team in 2009. The easy thing would be to say that we need to improve in certain positions like every other team would. But all the kids that we are recruiting were asked three question…
[LIST]
[*]Do you want football to be a priority in your life?
[*]Are you committed to getting better and pushing yourself to improve 12 months a year?
[*]And can you be counted on to be consistent in everything you do on and off the field?
[/LIST]Every team is always looking to improve at every position. We are comfortable with our 33 returning players knowing the work they have put in during the off season. But more importantly, is that they will be surrounded by recruits that will create competition during the season and the off season that will get us on par will all Cegep football teams in our league.
Key Losses
Replacing DB Chris Lavaud will not be easy. Chris comes from a great football family, is a great leader and has great work ethic. He will make an already strong team, in the Laval Rouge et Or, that much stronger.
Mattey Ossom , DB, is off to the McGill Redmen.
Phil Lavalee , LB, and Eric Noivo, DE, will be playing for the Concordia Stingers in 2010.
Emmanuelle Mussangu , RB, will also be playing with the McGill Redmen in 2010.
Key Recruits
Locally, we have commitment from some of the better players in the Midget and High School leagues. RB Scott Tomalty (St. Bruno), WR Nick Mann (St. Lazare), OL Sean Guihan (Lakeshore), QB Filip Jodoin (College St. Anne) are players that we can build this program with.
Of course, having players from the most successful Midget program in the province, North Shore Mustangs, will make you much better right away. WR Jelani McLaren, WR Ryan Olshansky, OL Matthew Goodfellow, LB Kevin Kilbourne and OL Ben Slapcoff.

In-door practices
To date, we have had just over 70 different kids out to our in-door practices every Wednesday including our 33 returning players.
We have 24 out of province recruits confirmed to attend our spring camp April 30 th and expect that number to get close to 40 in the next few weeks. We will have players from Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Ontario, PEI and Alberta on campus for spring camp April 30th.