2015 CIS COACHING CHANGES: Active off-season sees new faces & old faces in different places

CIS coaches were busy this off-season recruiting for the class of 2015 and beyond.  Not only were teams loading up on recruits, but they have also been restocking their coaching rosters.  During the offseason, new head coaches have been hired while some coordinators played musical chairs and other coaches are new to the CIS coaching scene

Here is a recap of some of the notable 2015 offseason coaching changes:

AUS

AUS:

SMU

SAINT MARY’S HUSKIES:

During the offseason, the Huskies brought on two new coordinators. AJ Tufford has joined the Huskies as the team’s new Offensive Coordinator after spending four seasons as Receivers Coach with the Acadia Axemen.  This is a homecoming of sorts for Tufford, who enjoyed a successful playing career with the Huskies, helping the team to a Vanier Cup and three CIS semi-final appearances. During his time as a player, the Huskies won four AUS Championships and a Uteck Bowl.

Bryce Fisher also came on board as the Huskies’ new Defensive Coordinator.  Fisher has been a fixture on Nova Scotia provincial team staffs.  Like Tufford, Fisher is returning back to the team he played for at the CIS level.

Jim Daley

ST.FX X-MEN:

Back in early June, the X-Men announced that 38 year coaching veteran Jim Daley has joined the coaching staff.  Daley will become the X-Men’s Special Teams Coordinator.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE ABOUT DALEY’S HIRING

acadia

 

ACADIA AXEMEN:

In early July, the Acadia Axemen were searching for new assistant coaches on both sides of the ball.  At press time, CanadaFootballChat.com has not heard of who was hired.  Stay tuned.

CLICK HERE TO SEE ARTICLE

MountAllisonMounties

MOUNT ALLISON MOUNTIES:

There is nothing major to report

RSEQ logo

RSEQ:

Ron Hilaire

MCGILL REDMEN:

In one of the biggest storylines during the CIS offseason, the McGill Redmen were on the hunt for a new Head Coach after Clint Uttley vacated the spot in early October 2014.

On February 17th, Ron Hilaire was officially introduced as 21st Head Coach in the history of the Redmen’s program.  Hilaire has been with the Redmen since February 2014.  Prior to assuming the Head Coaching position, Hilaire was Defensive Coordinator, Defensive Line Coach.  When Uttley left, Hilaire became co-interim Head Coach.

However, Hilaire’s immediate impact was felt in the recruitment area as he led the team’s efforts

CLICK HERE TO READ ARTICLE ON HILAIRE’S HIRING

Soon after he assumed the position, Hilaire brought in new personnel including Benoit Groulx as the team’s new Offensive Coordinator, replacing Pat Boies.  Addtionally, another significant addition was Sebastien Levesque as the team’s new Running Backs Coach.

CLICK HERE TO READ ARTICLE ON GROULX & LEVESQUE HIRINGS

carabins

MONTREAL CARABINS:

Nothing significant to report

Laval logo 2015

LAVAL ROUGE ET OR:

Nothing significant to report

ConcordiaStingers

CONCORDIA STINGERS:

Nothing significant to report

sherbrooke

SHERBROOKE VERT ET OR:

Nothing significant to report

bishops

BISHOP’S GAITERS:

Nothing significant to report

OUA logo

OUA:

Chris Bertoia Waterloo

WATERLOO WARRIORS:

We called it here first!  Back in the fall, the Waterloo Warriors began their search for a permanent Head Coach.  In late November, Chris Bertoia emerged as the front runner for the position as he enjoyed a successful playing career with the Warriors.

After a successful stint as Western Mustangs Recruiting Coordinator and Offensive Line Coach, Bertoia made the tough decision to leave Western and accept the Warriors Head Coaching position.  He was formally introduced on December 18th, 2014 

In an interview with CFC Editor Ameeta Vohra, Bertoia expressed the reasons he chose to join the Warriors.

“Ultimately, that was my goal and then the fact that Waterloo is my alma mater and that I was so many great memories from my time at Waterloo,” said Bertoia in the interview.  “When I was there, we were successful playing in four straight Yates Cups and winning two.”

“I just thought all the ducks were in a row and which I was confidently given that indication.  I really couldn’t pass it up when the opportunity came and that’s kind of why. It’s also the challenge of doing something different.”

CLICK HERE FOR MORE OF BERTOIA’S INTERVIEWS

Once Bertoia took the head coaching reins, he began to add to the coaching staff.  In early March, the Warriors formally introduced their personnel and the highlight was the hiring of Matt Robichaud as the team’s Defensive Coordinator.

CLICK HERE TO READ ARTICLE ON COACHING STAFF ADDITIONS

Last month, Sam Sabourin joined the Warriors staff as Strength and Conditioning Coordinator.  Prior to the Warriors, Sabourin completed a stint with the University of Toronto Varsity Blues.

CLICK HERE TO READ ARTICLE ON SABOURIN’S HIRING

Sardo

MCMASTER MARAUDERS:

After guiding the McMaster Marauders to a Vanier Cup appearance in 2014, Greg Knox left as Defensive Coordinator and moved on to the CFL’s Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

CLICK HERE TO READ ARTICLE ON KNOX’S DEPARTURE

The Marauders introduced Joe Sardo as Knox’s replacement.  Sardo previously served as the Marauders Defensive Coordinator from 2000-2006 but left for personal reasons.

CLICK HERE TO READ ARTICLE ON SARDO’S HIRING

Kyle Quinlan left the Marauders roost this offseason to join the Atlantic Football League’s (AFL) Holland College Hurricanes. After guiding the Marauders to their only Vanier Cup victory in 2011, the Hec Crighton and Vanier Cup champ moved into the coaching ranks in 2013 as an assistant to the Marauders and Head Coach of the Hamilton Ironmen of the Ontario Varsity Football League (OVFL).

CLICK HERE TO READ ARTICLE ON QUINLAN’S DEPARTURE

Replacing Quinlan as Quarterbacks Coach is former Marauders player Kyle Archibald.

CLICK HERE TO READ ARTICLE ON ARCHIBALD’S HIRING

ftbcoaches Queens

QUEEN’S GAELS:

This offseason, the Queen’s Gaels had some big shoes to fill as Ryan Sheahan vacated the Offensive Coordinator position to move over to the Calgary Dinos and work in the same capacity.

In early June, the Gaels hired Alex Vertuello as the team’s new Offensive Coordinator.  Previously, Vertuello has served as an offensive assistant with both the Gaels and Montreal Carabins.

Additionally, Ben D’Andrea was also brought on as an assistant coach.  A former Gaels player, D’Andrea helped the team to the 2009 Vanier Cup.  Most recently, D’Andrea worked with the Ottawa Gee-Gees as a defensive assistant coach.

CLICK HERE TO READ ARTICLE ON VERTUELLO AND D’ANDREA’S HIRING

JP Circelli

WESTERN MUSTANGS:

After the departure of long time Recruiting Coordinator and Assistant Coach Chris Bertoia, the Western Mustangs were faced with the big task of filling the void left by him.

Back in early March during the team’s introduction of their 2015 recruiting class, the Mustangs announced that JP Circelli returned back to team as Offensive Line Coach.  Previous to his return, Circelli did the same position with the Concordia Stingers during the 2014 RSEQ season.

In 2006, Circelli began his coaching career as an assistant coach at Catholic Central High School in London, Ont. He took over as head coach of the Crusaders in 2010. He has also previously instructed the London Beefeaters, of the Ontario Football Conference (OFC) and with the Mustangs. This past summer, he was Head Coach of the junior varsity London Jr Mustangs of the Ontario Varsity Football League (OVFL).

Additionally, Adrian Kaiser was introduced as the Mustangs Linebackers Coach. Kaiser returned back to the team he enjoyed tremendous success as a player from 2005-2010.  During his time there, the Mustangs won three Yates Cup Championships.

CLICK HERE TO READ ARTICLE ON CIRCELLI AND KAISER’S HIRINGS

Cedric Joseph Western 2

The Mustangs opted to go internally when it came to filling the Recruiting Coordnator position.  Tom Flaxman assumed the role during the offseason.  Flaxman also moved over to the offensive side of the ball as an assistant (last year he was an assistant on defence).

CLICK HERE FOR ARTICLE ON FLAXMAN”S PROMOTION

One concern many had regarding the Mustangs was their recruiting as Bertoia left when it was peak season.  However, the team didn’t lose a beat and currently has the second ranked class in the #CFC27.

“It was unfortunate that we lost Coach Bert,” commented Mustangs Head Coach Greg Marshall for an upcoming CIS Recruitment Article for CanadaFootballChat.com.  “He’s a good friend and a great guy.”

“It’s not easy to handle that but I will say that Coach Flaxman and Coach [Chris] Marcus really picked it up, did a great job and finished our class with a strong effort. I am really proud of how our coaches handled that transition, losing Coach Bert.”

Ryan Karhut

YORK LIONS:

In early May, the York Lions hired Ryan Karhut as Special Team’s Coordinator. Previous to the Lions, Karhut was Head Coach of the Winnipeg Rifles of the Prairie Football Conference (PFC) in the Canadian Junior Football League (CJFL).  Overall, Karhut has 26 years of experience as both a player and coach.

CLICK HERE TO READ ARTICLE ON KARHUT’S HIRING

carleton logo new

CARLETON RAVENS:

Nothing significant to report

guelph gryphon

GUELPH GRYPHONS:

Nothing significant to report

ottawa gee gees

OTTAWA GEE-GEES:

Nothing significant to report

varsity_blues_Athletic T

UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO VARSITY BLUES:

Nothing significant to report

laurier football image

WILFRID LAURIER GOLDEN HAWKS:

Nothing significant to report

Windsor Lancers

WINDSOR LANCERS:

Nothing significant to report

logo-Canada_West

CWUAA:

Blake Nill UBC 2

UBC THUNDERBIRDS:

One of the team’s to make a huge coaching play was the UBC Thunderbirds.  After spending nine seasons with the Calgary Dinos, Blake Nill stepped down as Head Coach on December 8th, 2014.  He didn’t waste any time as he was hired the next day as the Thunderbirds new chief.

During his time with the Dinos, Nill led the team to three Vanier Cup appearances and won the Frank Tindall (CIS Coach of the Year) honours in 1999. He guided the Saint Mary’s Huskies to two Vanier Cup Championships (2001, 2002).

CLICK HERE TO READ ARTICLE ON NILL

Soon after, Steve Buratto followed Nill to the Thunderbirds.  In early February, Buratto was named the Thunderbirds Offensive Coordinator and Associate Head Coach.  Previous to this, Buratto worked under Nill as the Dinos Offensive Line Coach.

CLICK HERE TO READ ARTICLE ON BURATTO’S HIRING

Calgary Wayne Harris

CALGARY DINOS:

With the void left by Nill’s departure, the Calgary Dinos began an extensive search for their new Head Coach.  After assuming the head coaching position on an interim basis back in January, Wayne Harris Jr. was officially chosen to permanently take over the reins over a month later.

Harris has been involved with the Dinos organization for over 40 years in different capacities.

CLICK HERE FOR ARTICLE ON HARRIS’ HIRING

Once Harris had the interim tag removed, he began the process of bringing in personnel.  Dmitri Tsoumpas was brought on as the team’s new Offensive Line Coach. Tsoumpas comes to the Dinos after a lengthy stint with the CFL’s Calgary Stampeders as a player and also aided in the strength and conditioning area.

CLICK HERE FOR ARTICLE ON TSOUMPAS; HIRING

This spring, the Dinos announced that former Queen’s Gaels Offensive Coordinator Ryan Sheahan joined their staff in the same capacity.  He helped the Gaels to a Vanier Cup Championship in 2009 as an assistant Offensive Coordinator.  Sheahan also did a brief coaching stint with the CFL’s Hamilton Tiger Cats.

CLICK HERE TO READ ARTICLE ON SHEAHAN’S HIRING

Mike Gibson announcement

REGINA RAMS:

After Frank McCrystal retired after a 30 year reign as Head Coach, the Rams began their search for a new one.

On December 29th, Mike Gibson was introduced as the new Head Coach.  Gibson came to the Rams with over 10 years of experience coaching with CFL teams, including the Ottawa Redblacks and Calgary Stampeders.  Additionally, he has previously coached in the NCAA.

CLICK HERE TO READ ARTICLE ON GIBSON’S HIRING

In February, the Rams introduced their coaching staff.  Paul Dawson returned back to the Rams as the team’s Defensive Coordinator and Greg Nesbitt came back after a year’s absence as a defensive line coach. Four coaches were retained while two newcomers also joined the the Rams.

CLICK HERE TO READ ARTICLE ON RAMS COACHING STAFF

Former Rams standout Mark McConkey was hired as the team’s Offensive Coordinator, Quaterbacks and Academic Coach.

CLICK HERE TO READ ARTICLE ON MCCONKEY’S HIRING

Alberta Golden Bears

ALBERTA GOLDEN BEARS:

Nothing significant to report

manitoba

MANITOBA BISONS:

Nothing significant to report

sask huskies

SASKATCHEWAN HUSKIES:

Nothing significant to report

 

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