Circelli named head coach of Lancer Football program

Windsor, ON – The University of Windsor’s Department of Athletics is excited to announce the appointment of Jean-Paul Circelli as the new head coach of the Lancer Football program. The appointment is effective February 1st.

Circelli becomes only the fifth head coach in the 50-year history of the football program.

“I am thrilled to welcome JP Circelli and his family to the University of Windsor,” said athletic director Mike Havey. “JP is a passionate coach and leader and he is very highly regarded in the football community. He has been successful at every level at which he has coached or played, and he has had championship level success throughout his coaching career. We look forward to seeing Coach Circelli lead our football program forward in the years ahead.”

For the past four years, the London, ON native has served as the offensive line coach of the Western Mustangs, where they have been among the national leaders in scoring, rushing and total yards. He has helped 15 Mustang offensive linemen become OUA conference all-stars and seven of those players were also recognized as U SPORTS All-Canadians.

During his time coaching at Western, the Mustangs captured two straight Yates Cup OUA championships, made back-to-back Vanier Cup appearances, and won the Vanier Cup title in 2017.

In addition to coaching at Western University, JP has also been the head coach of the London Jr. Mustangs varsity team in the OPFL since 2017. There, he has led the Jr. Mustangs to back to back Ontario Provincial Football League Varsity Championships going 21-0 over the past two seasons. In seven years coaching with the London Junior Mustangs program, they captured four provincial titles at either the varsity or junior varsity levels.

An experienced coach and leader, JP has coached with Team Ontario at the U18 level for two years and he was recently appointed as the head coach of Team Ontario for the 2019 Canada Cup which will take place in Kingston, ON this summer.

In addition to his coaching experience, Circelli also enjoyed considerable success as a student-athlete. As an offensive lineman at McMaster University from 2001-05, he captured three consecutive Yates Cup championships and was named team captain in his senior year.

JP will be joined on the Lancer coaching staff by his brother Joe Circelli who will serve as the new offensive coordinator for the Lancers. Joe was most recently the defensive line coach and recruiting coordinator at Western University. Circelli was drafted into the CFL by the Calgary Stampeders as an offensive lineman and played two seasons with the Toronto Argos. He completed his university football career with the Western Mustangs where he was a former OUA all-star.

JP Circelli will be introduced to the media and Windsor community at a special event on campus on Friday, February 1 in the afternoon.

Coach Circelli and the Lancers will open the 2019 OUA season on Sunday, August 25th when they host the York University Lions at Alumni Field.

 

source: golancers.ca