Archibald replaces Quinlan as Marauders quarterbacks coach

Written by Fraser Caldwell, McMaster Sports Information

The evolution of Kyle Quinlan from star player to budding coach took another step forward on July 15, when Holland College of Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island announced that the Hec Crighton Trophy winner had accepted the position as the school’s Head Football Coach and Offensive Coordinator.

One of the best players to ever suit up for the Marauders, Quinlan led McMaster to the program’s lone Vanier Cup victory in 2011 before starring once again a year later as the Marauders reached the national title game yet again and accomplished a then-CIS record winning streak of 21 games.

Since graduating from McMaster in 2013, the quarterback has made several inroads into a career on the sidelines, spending the past two seasons handling running backs and quarterbacks on the Marauder staff while assuming head coaching duties with the Hamilton Ironmen of the Ontario Varsity Football League.

Uprooting from Southern Ontario and the McMaster program he knows so well is a life-altering move for Quinlan, but it’s one that he considers necessary as he looks to progress as a coach.

“I was very lucky to have had the position that I have had at Mac, but I was feeling the itch to try some new opportunities,” said Quinlan. “I was hoping to get a call like this relatively soon, and the fact that it was a good opportunity with a good group of people made it attractive.”

Quinlan was alerted to the opportunity when the previous head coach Andrew Hickey elected to pursue graduate studies at the University of New Brunswick. His departure necessitated a quick turnaround, and after a two week process that progressed from a gauging of Quinlan’s interest to a campus tour a week ago, the young coach and the Holland program came to an agreement.

He takes the reins of a highly successful team, as the Holland Hurricanes compiled an 8-0 record in the Atlantic Football League in 2014 en route to their second consecutive Moosehead Cup victory. Quinlan’s first instinct was to opt for continuity, but as he explained, the situation in the AFL should give him a largely clean slate with which to work.

“I didn’t want to come in and change everything because it didn’t look like it needed to be changed,” said Quinlan. “But the coaches explained that because of the turnover — most of the guys are on two-year diploma programs — there would be a lot of change. There may only be two returnees on offence next season.”

The Atlantic Football League is a unique mixture of programs of different stature and aspirations. The four-team operation includes a college team in Holland, two satellites of the University of New Brunswick and the Dalhousie Tigers, whose ultimate aim to is ascend to the ranks of the CIS.

“That will be good for the level of play, because they’re going to have to beat us in order to get into the CIS,” said Quinlan of Dalhousie. “It’s a unique league, because there are a bunch of different setups. But I’m intrigued by that.”

Marauder head coach Stefan Ptaszek acknowledged Quinlan’s influence as a coach, not only on campus, but throughout Hamilton as a whole.

“I am very happy that Kyle’s coaching efforts on our campus and in our community have been recognized outside the City of Hamilton,” said Ptaszek. “Kyle is a tremendous coach and I know he will have a huge impact on his new program.”

Stepping into Quinlan’s vacated role as McMaster’s quarterbacks coach is another former Marauder pivot, Adam Archibald. His five-year career at McMaster spanned 2003-2007, and saw Archibald write his name across the Marauder record books. He currently sits third among McMaster passers with a career total of 6313 passing yards, and fifth with 358 completions, while still holding the record for the longest completion in program history with a 108-yard touchdown in 2007.

“McMaster football is very excited to announce that former McMaster quarterback Adam Archibald will be the quarterbacks coach in 2015,” said Ptaszek. “Adam is a Team of the Decade member and brings a wealth of knowledge to our program.”

Archibald will have an immediate opportunity to groom a fresh starter under centre, as McMaster looks to a new quarterback following the graduation of Marshall Ferguson. It is a role that Ptaszek believed Archibald to be perfectly suited for.

“I am especially excited for our quarterbacks to witness Coach Archibald’s calm, confident and positive attitude on the field,” said Ptaszek. “I think he will be invaluable in managing a first-year starter, and the expectations for that position at McMaster.”