Danny Maciocia heads to Université de Montréal to take command of the Carabins

MONTREAL – Université de Montréal’s football team, the Carabins, has a new head coach: Danny Maciocia. The St-Leonard native is well-known in professional, varsity and club circles. Last Sunday, as offensive coordinator, he helped Collège André-Grasset win its first-ever Bol d’or.

Danny Maciocia is the only Quebec-born coach to have been a head coach in the Canadian Football League (CFL). He won a Grey Cup for his efforts, with the Edmonton Eskimos in 2005.

“We wanted to raise the level of the Carabins’ football program mainly in terms of performance, player academic results and discipline,” said UdeM sports program director Manon Simard. “To achieve all that, we felt we needed to name a new head coach to provide new leadership to the program.”

“Today we’re fortunate to welcome an exceptional coach and a man of strong values. Danny Maciocia has earned his stripes in Montreal and in Edmonton, with young players and with professionals. It’s a new era that will bring new drive to our program,” she added.

Maciocia is the Bleus’ third head coach. He follows Marc Santerre (2006-2010) and Jacques Dussault (2002-2005).

At UdeM to stay “Today, my family is my priority,” said Maciocia, who at 42 is the father of three girls, 11, 6 and 2 years old. “I accomplished what I wanted to do in the professional leagues and now I want to share my expertise and experience with young varsity players. I want to finish my coaching career in Montreal and ideally at the Université de Montréal. It’s the perfect place for me.”

“My experience this season at Collège André-Grasset, including last Sunday’s victory, has convinced me more than ever to pursue my career with young players.”

This is Maciocia’s second position at UdeM: he was named offensive coordinator under Jacques Dussault in 2002 before he accepted an offer from the Edmonton Eskimos. Prior to that, from 1996 to 2001, he was on the Montreal Alouette’s coaching team. He began his coaching career with the St-Leonard Cougars.

“I have known the managers of the Carabins for a few years, especially Manon Simard and Paul Krivicky (executive director of the CEPSUM), and that’s one of the main reasons I’m here.”

Known for developing player potential
Maciocia has guided a number of his protégés to notable exploits in the professional leagues: quarterbacks Ricky Ray and Jason Maas, who set many CFL and Edmonton Eskimo records, and Mike Pringle, the greatest running back in the history of the CFL in terms of yards rushing. Maciocia also coached many other renowned players, including Tracy Ham, Ben Cahoon, Terry Vaughn, and Anthony Calvillo, and contributed to the development of the careers of several Quebecers, including Bruno Heppell, Éric Lapointe, André Bolduc, Michael Soles and Pierre Vercheval.

Throughout his coaching career, Maciocia always made it his job to contribute to the development of young players, whether as a coach with Junior Team Canada or by giving clinics to coaches and players on the varsity and club circuits.

Next steps
In the coming days and weeks, Maciocia will establish his coaching staff, meet the players on the team and recruit new players to join the team in January or September.

“There’s plenty of work to be done, but we have a plan and we know exactly what we’re doing,” the Bleus’ new chief said.

Review of recent events
The management of the sports excellence program also gave an overview of the last few days when the players expressed their discontentment with the non-renewal of their previous head coach’s contract. “Our organization learned a lot from this experience,” said Robert Panet-Raymond, chair of the CEPSUM board of directors.
“Our decision to change the coach was rational and well-thought-out,” explained the former Carabins player. “Our football program was analysed by knowledgeable people with sound judgment,” he added, after naming the members of the group to the media. “All these people have very strong connections with sports and the varsity milieu.”

After a 30-year hiatus, the Carabins football program made a successful comeback in 2002. In the nine seasons since then, the Bleus have racked up a total of 43 victories and 24 defeats, as well as reaching the provincial Dunsmore Cup finals three times.

Danny Maciocia Bio

St-Leonard native Danny Maciocia has become the third head coach of the Université de Montréal Carabins football team, launched in 2002. Over the previous 14 seasons, Danny Maciocia made his mark in the Canadian Football League (CFL), with both the Montreal Alouettes and the Edmonton Eskimos.

Danny Maciocia is the only Quebecer to have served as a head coach in the CFL, won a Grey Cup as head coach and served as general manager. He has won as many, if not more, awards than any other coach in the province, including the Grey Cup, the U19 World Championship, the Italian Superbowl, the Canadian Junior Championships, the Eastern Canadian Juniors, and the Bol d’or collégial.

Well known for developing the potential of the players he coaches, Maciocia has guided a number of his protégés to remarkable accomplishments in the professional leagues: quarterbacks Ricky Ray and Jason Maas, who set many CFL and Edmonton Eskimo records, and Mike Pringle, the greatest running back in the history of the CFL in terms of yards rushing. Maciocia also coached many other renowned players, including Tracy Ham, Ben Cahoon, Terry Vaughn, and Anthony Calvillo, and contributed to the development of the careers of several Quebecers, including Bruno Heppell, Éric Lapointe, André Bolduc, Michael Soles and Pierre Vercheval.

Throughout his coaching career, Maciocia has always made it a point to share his expertise and experience on the Quebec football scene, both with club teams and at the varsity level, offering training to both coaches and players.

This is the second UdeM position held by Danny Maciocia. When the team was created in 2002, he was named offensive coordinator by head coach Jacques Dussault, before accepting an offer from the Edmonton Eskimos a few months later.

A popular figure with the media, he received the 2005 Médaille d’honneur from the Quebec National Assembly. Danny Maciocia and his wife Sandra have three daughters: Bianca, 11, Juliana, 6, and Alessia, 2.

Danny Maciocia’s coaching career
2010 Offensive coordinator – Collège André-Grasset Phénix Won the cégep-level Bol d’or, AA Division 2
2009 General manager and director of football operations – Edmonton Eskimos
2007 Head coach and director of football operations – Edmonton Eskimos
2005-2008 Head coach – Edmonton Eskimos Won the Grey Cup (2005)
2004-2006 Head coach – Team Canada U19Won the Junior World Championships (2005 and 2006)
2002-2004 Offensive coordinator – Edmonton Eskimos Won the Grey Cup (2003)Grey Cup finalist (2002)
2001 Offensive coordinator – Montreal Alouettes
2000 Assistant offensive coordinator – Montreal Alouettes
1998-1999 Head coach – Bergamo Lions (1st division, Italy)Won the Italian Superbowl (1998 and 1999)
1997-1999 Running back coach – Montreal Alouettes
1996 Quality control coach – Montreal Alouettes
1995 Offensive coordinator – Quebec U19 teamWon national championships
1995 Head coach – St-Leonard Cougars (CJFL)
1994 Offensive coordinator – St-Leonard Cougars (CJFL)Won Eastern Canadian Championships
1993 Running back coach – Quebec U19 teamWon national championships
Source:

Université de Montréal Carabins