Cummins named top coach in CIS

VANCOUVER (CIS) – Acadia’s Jeff Cummins was named the coach of the year in Canadian Interuniversity Sport football on Friday morning.

FRANK TINDALL TROPHY – Jeff Cummins (Acadia)

Cummins became only the second Acadia sideline boss to claim the Frank Tindall trophy. He follows in the footsteps of John Huard, who was honoured by his CIS peers in 1981.

In his ninth season at the helm, the native of Torrance, California, guided his troops to a first-place finish in the AUS conference with a 7-1 record, marking a three-win improvement from a year ago and the team’s best campaign since 1986 (7-0). It was also the program’s first winning season since 2006. Acadia went on to defeat archrival Saint Mary’s 39-20 in the Loney Bowl final to capture its first league championship in five years.

In addition to his head coaching duties, Cummins, who was previously named AUS coach of the year in 2004 and 2005, switched back to the offensive side of the ball this season and took charge of the offensive line. To say the move paid off would be an understatement as the Axemen scored 282 points in eight games, more than doubling their tally from 2010 (134).

Following a playing career with the University of Oregon Ducks, Cummins coached for 11 years in the professional ranks including stints in the NFL, CFL, AFL and XFL. Since he took over as Acadia’s bench boss, he has compiled a career record of 36 wins and 36 losses in conference play, along with a 6-7 playoff mark.

“There is no one more deserving of this national recognition than Jeff Cummins,” said Acadia director of athletics Kevin Dickie. “Jeff is not only passionate about the game of football but also about Acadia Athletics. He continues to champion the history and tradition of his own program, while supporting all of our other varsity teams. He is not only focused on the development of his student-athletes on the field, but also in the classroom and in our community. As a senior coach in our department, Jeff has been invaluable to me as the AD at Acadia. We are extremely proud of Jeff and our team’s 2011 season.”

Sherbrooke’s André Bolduc, Windsor’s Joe D’Amore and UBC’s Shawn Olson were the other finalists for the Frank Tindall

Photo credit Richard Lam

2011 FRANK TINDALL TROPHY NOMINEES (coach of the year)
AUS: Jeff Cummins, Acadia (recipient)
RSEQ: André Bolduc, Sherbrooke
OUA: Joe D’Amore, Windsor
CWUAA: Shawn Olson, UBC

ALL-TIME FRANK TINDALL TROPHY WINNERS (coach of the year)
2011 Jeff Cummins, Acadia
2010 Glen Constantin, Laval
2009 Steve Sumarah, Saint Mary’s
2008 Pat Sheahan, Queen’s
2007 Frank McCrystal, Regina
2006 Denis Piché, Ottawa
2005 Glen Constantin, Laval
2004 Jerry Friesen, Alberta
2003 Gary Jeffries, Wilfrid Laurier
2002 Chuck McMann, McGill
2001 Brian Dobie, Manitoba
2000 Greg Marshall, McMaster
1999 Blake Nill, Saint Mary’s
1998 Larry Haylor, Western
1997 John Stevens, StFX
1996 Dan McNally, Guelph
1995 Rick Zmich, Wilfrid Laurier
1994 Brian Towriss, Saskatchewan
1993 Larry Uteck, Saint Mary’s
1992 Ian Breck, Bishop’s
1991 Rich Newbrough, Wilfrid Laurier
1990 Larry Haylor, Western
1989 Dave Knight, Waterloo
1988 Larry Uteck, Saint Mary’s
1987 Frank Smith, UBC
1986 Bruce Coulter, Bishop’s
1985 Peter Connellan, Calgary
1984 Steve Bruno, Mount Allison
1983 Doug Hargreaves, Queen’s
1982 Bernie Custis, McMaster
1981 John Huard, Acadia
1980 Cam Innes, Ottawa
1979 Dave “Tuffy” Knight, Wilfrid Laurier
1978 Frank Smith, UBC
1977 Peter Connellan, Calgary
1976 Darwin Semotiuk, Western
1975 Don Gilbert, Ottawa
1974 Ron Murphy, Toronto
1973 Ed Hilton, UPEI
1972 Dave “Tuffy” Knight, Wilfrid Laurier
1971 Jim Donlevy, Alberta
1970 Frank Cosentino, Western
1969 Henry Janzen, Manitoba