The Saint Mary’s Huskies have announced that they are parting ways with Perry Marchese.
This ends a rough tenure as Head Coach of the Huskies.
Back in February 2012 after a lengthy process, Marchese was hired as Huskies Head Coach.
Despite having a late recruitment start due to the hiring process in his first season with the Huskies, the team amassed a 5-3 record and reached the 2012 Loney Bowl Final but lost to the Acadia Axemen.
The next year, the Huskies hosted the Loney Bowl final and enjoyed a 17-10 lead n that game heading into the fourth quarter. However, their lead evaporared in the last two minutes of the game as the Mount Allision Mounties mounted a late comeback to win the 2013 Loney Bowl 20-17 over the Huskies.
After that loss, the Huskies football program never fully recovered as the next two seasons under Marchese’s leadership the team amassed two incidential 0-8 records and failed to make the playoffs.
During Marchese’s four year tenure, his regular season record was 8-24.
Added to that, the Huskies were rocked with a couple of scandals during Marchese’s tenure. One of the major ones was when the school suspended 10 players for using social media to post inappropriate sexist and racist comments.
This past May, four former Huskies players tested positive for banned substances while attending the CFL Combine and were sanctioned by the Canadian Centre for Sports Ethics.
Additionally, third year quarterback Scott Borden left the team this fall citing that he was not informed of SMU’s ecision to implement a two quarterback system.
Marchese had extensive football experience prior to his arrival to the Huskies. He was as the elite program coordinator of the Ontario Football Alliance (OFA). As for CIS experience, he was the offensive coordinator with the Guelph Gryphons in 2010. Marchese resigned from that position in the spring of 2011.
With the CFL’s Toronto Argonauts, Marchese was the offensive assistant (2004) and running backs coach (2005). He was also an offensive assistant with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in 2006. Additionally, Marchese coached six seasons with the Steel City Ironmen in the Ontario Varsity Football League (OVFL). With Team Ontario, he guided them to two straight national championships (2002-2003). In 2009, he was the offensive coordinator with the Bishop’s Gaiters.
Marchese graduated in 1997 from Saint Mary’s with a master’s degree in business administration and was quarterback with the football Huskies.
In addition to Marchese, Jones was relieved from his duties as Special Teams Coordinator and Running Backs Coach.
The following is an official press release from Saint Mary’s regarding today’s news:
Saint Mary’s University has relieved Perry Marchese of his duties as head coach of the Huskies football team. Dean Jones has also been relieved as assistant coach, with both decisions taking effect immediately.
“On behalf of Saint Mary’s and the Huskies athletic program, I want to thank Perry and Dean for their years of service,” said Kevin Downie, Director of Athletics and Recreation. “Both men are well-respected by students, staff, and faculty, and within the CIS. I wish them both all the best.”
Marchese played four seasons with the Huskies and graduated from Saint Mary’s with an MBA in 1997 before serving as an Assistant Coach in the CFL with both Toronto and Hamilton. Prior to starting his role with the Huskies in 2012, he was an offensive coordinator in the CIS at Bishop’s and Guelph. Jones, a member of the Huskies Vanier Cup teams of 2001 and 2002, joined the coaching staff in 2013.
“Coach Marchese has led our program through some challenging situations and has consistently focused on the success of our student athletes in sport, as students, and in the community,” said Downie.
“We’re proud of our tradition of athletic excellence at Saint Mary’s, but we must also look to the future. Today’s decision will allow us to move forward and continue to improve.”
The search for a new head coach will begin next week, with applicants being considered starting November 23. Coaching duties, including recruitment, will be handled on an interim basis until a new coach is selected.
CanadaFootballChat.com will have more information as it becomes available
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