Sheahan named Dinos Offensive Coordinator, Assistant Head Coach

****UPDATED APRIL 15th, 2015 @ 15:30 EST****

CALGARY – Head Coach Wayne Harris announced Wednesday the appointment of Ryan Sheahan as Assistant Head Coach and Offensive Coordinator for the University of Calgary Dinos football program.

Sheahan joins the Dinos from Queen’s University, where he has served as offensive coordinator for the past two seasons. Previously, he was quarterbacks coach and then assistant offensive coordinator and video coordinator from 2008-11 at his alma mater, coaching with his father Pat. In 2012, Sheahan coached running backs for the CFL’s Hamilton Tiger Cats under George Cortez.

A native of Montreal, he quarterbacked the Gaels from 2001-04, graduating with a BA in History. He played overseas before joining the Queen’s coaching staff in 2008, winning the Vanier Cup in 2009.

His addition is another piece in the revamped Dinos coaching staff under Harris, who took over the program in January. Sheahan will work with new offensive line coach Dimitri Tsoumpas, taking over an offence that was the most potent in CIS last season, leading the nation in scoring, touchdowns, and total offence with Hec Crighton Trophy winner Andrew Buckley at the controls.

“Ryan is one of the top offensive coaches in Canada,” said Harris. “He has developed some of the top quarterbacks in university football and is known for installing innovative offensive schemes. Ryan brings a wealth of knowledge along with strong leadership, and he will challenge our offence to play at their optimum level of performance.”

“I’m very excited to join the University of Calgary Dinos football staff,” said Sheahan. “I consider it an honour to join such a storied program. I want to thank Wayne, Athletic Director Ron Wuotila, and 5th Quarter President Greg Vavra and his colleagues for being so accommodating during this process. I look forward to working with Coach Harris, the rest of the staff, and our amazing student-athletes as we strive toward bringing the Vanier Cup back to Calgary.”

Sheahan will make his first on-field appearance with the Dinos at their Spring Camp, which runs from April 29-May 3 at McMahon Stadium, capped off by the annual Red-White Scrimmage on Sunday. Calgary opens the 2015 regular season Friday, Sept. 4 when they host the UBC Thunderbirds at McMahon Stadium.

Source: Ben Matchett, Calgary Dinos Sports Information

 

Photo credit: Jeff Chan

KINGSTON  – Queen’s football has announced two staffing changes for the upcoming season asRyan Sheahan has accepted the position of assistant head coach/offensive coordinator with the Calgary Dinos andGrant Schelske returns to Queen’s as a student to further his education.

Ryan is a native of Montreal, Quebec and graduated from Queen’s with a BA in History. As a player, he suited up for the Gaels for four seasons from 2001 to 2004 playing quarterback and finished as the team’s leading scorer in his final year. He served as the offensive coordinator for the Limestone Grenadiers in Kingston before going to to play professional football in Denmark for the Esbjerg Hurricanes in 2006 while also serving as an assistant coach for the Hurricanes.

Ryan Sheahan began his coaching tenure with the Gaels in 2008 where he served as the assistant offensive coordinator – quarterback coach/video coordinator. A 2009 Vanier Cup National Champion and Yates Cup Provincial Champion, Ryan worked with Gaels quarterback Danny Brannagan who holds is the all-time Gaels leader in passing, completions and touchdowns.

In 2012 Sheahan took a position with the Ti-Cats in the CFL as the running backs coach under head coach George Cortez. Ryan worked with Ti-Cat backs Avon Cobourne and Chevon Walker who averaged 5.9 and 5.6 yards per carry under his tutelage. Ryan returned to the Gaels as the offensive coordinator/QB coach in 2013 helping lead the Gaels to a Yates cup appearance that season.

Ryan is the eldest son of Gaels head coach Pat Sheahan and his younger brother Devan has served as the teams Receivers Coach since 2011.

The football team has also announced that Grant Schelske the defensive backs/video coordinator will be pursuing his education and not be back with the team next season in a full-time capacity.  He WILL BE BACK in a different capacity than defensive backs coach.  Schelske is a native of Keewatin, Ontario and graduated from Queen’s with a BA in Film and Media Studies. He took to the gridiron for the better part of four seasons with the Gaels and was a member of the 2009 Vanier Cup National Champion and Yates Cup Provincial Champion team playing primarily as a running back in his career.

In 2011 he joined the Gaels coaching staff as the team’s Video Coordinator and Offensive Assistant Coach. This then led Schelske to a position with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the CFL where he served as the Defensive Assistant Coach/Assistant Defensive Backs Coach under Head Coach George Cortez. Schelske worked in various defensive capacities with the team including practice preperation, scouting, video analysis and game strategy. Over the last two seasons Schelske has been a full-time defensive assistant and the team’s video coordinator.

The search for a new offensive coordinator and defensive backs/video coordinator will commence immediately.

Source: Shawn MacDonald, Queen’s Gaels Sports Information