Costanzo hired by Varsity Blues to lead offense

The University of Toronto Varsity Blues football program is pleased to announce the hiring of Luigi Costanzo as the team’s new offensive coordinator for the 2014 season.

“Luigi is a great addition to our program and will help in the continuing development of our offence,” said Varsity Blues football head coach Greg Gary. “He’s a proven coach with a great track record of producing quality players both on and off the field. He’s hard working with great knowledge of the game, and I know our players will respond to his system.”

No stranger to CIS football, Costanzo spent the last four years as member of the University of Ottawa coaching staff.  Under the guidance of head coach and offensive coordinator, Jamie Barresi, he helped guide the highly touted Gee-Gees offence to a CIS best 7.5 yards per rush and was the nation’s second best offence in total yards in 2013. Most recently the team’s offensive line coach and recruiting coordinator, Costanzo had also been the special teams coordinator, the alumni outreach coordinator and the running back coach.

While in Ottawa, Costanzo was named the head coach of Team Eastern Ontario that competed in the 2010 Canada Cup. He continued on as the team’s special teams coordinator in 2011 and the offensive coordinator in 2012, when the team averaged 32 points per game and 10 yards per carry.

As an active member of the community, Costanzo has been integral within the grassroots and amateur football associations in the Ottawa area. He is a Level 3 certified coach and went on to become a certified conductor, presenter and facilitator.

After stints with the National Capital Amateur Football Association, Costanzo moved on to become the head coach of the Ontario Varsity Football League’s Myers Riders in 2004, and again in 2006, and was also the head coach of the Ottawa Junior Riders from 2004-2009. While with the Riders program, his teams won three consecutive Quebec Junior Football League championships and produced 20 league all-stars; players like Bogdan Raic and Ettore Lattanzio, both OUA all-stars with the Gee-Gees, and Queen’s standout all-Canadian linebacker, Sam Sabourin.