****UPDATED 17/12/2014 @ 8:30PM EST***
Chapdelaine leaves post after only 10 months.
Jacques Chapdelaine is set to resign from his position as Head Coach of NCAA Division 2’s Simon Fraser Clan.
Chapdelaine only held the position for 10 months and is expected to return back to the CFL as the Saskatchewan Roughriders new Offensive Coordinator.
The Clan released an official statement:
Burnaby, BC – Jacques Chapdelaine, Simon Fraser University Clan football head coach, is off to pursue other career options, almost a year after taking over the SFU football helm from Dave Johnson.
In the 11 short months that the SFU alumnus (BSc’85) has been on Clan turf he has helped bring success to the only non-U.S. football team in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).
A former national football star, Chapdelaine played for the SFU Clan in the 1980s and then moved on to a seven-year career in the Canadian Football League where he starred as a slotback.
“Today, I accepted Jacques’ resignation so that he could pursue other options,” says Milton Richards, SFU’s senior director, Athletics and Recreation.
“We are grateful to Jacques for all his hard work on behalf of SFU football, which has put our program on the road to success. In the next few days, we will name an interim coach to keep our fine recruiting efforts going while immediately beginning a national search for a new head football coach.”
Previous to taking over the Clan Head Coach position in February, 2014, Chapdelaine served as the BC Lions Offensive Coordinator for five seasons (2009-2013). Additionally, he was the Edmonton Eskimos Offensive Coordinator in 2007. Chapdelaine has previously instructed in different capacities with the Toronto Argonauts and Calgary Stampeders.
Chapdelaine also has previous CIS Head Coaching experience. From 1997-2000, the Sherbrooke, Quebec native was the Head Coach of the Laval Rouge et Or. Chapdelaine led the team to their first ever Vanier Cup victory in 1999. He has previously served as Offensive Coordinator with Bishop’s Gaiters.
As a player, Chapdelaine enjoyed a seven year career in the CFL as a slotback with four different teams – Calgary Stampeders, Hamilton Tiger-Cats, Montreal Alouettes/Concordes and BC Lions. He has won the Grey Cup three times in his career. He was drafted in the first round (fifth overall) in the 1983 CFL Draft by the Lions.
More information will be provided as it becomes available.
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