FAULDS, LAFLAMME HIRED AS YORK ASSISTANT FOOTBALL COACHES

York University Sport & Recreation announced on Tuesday (June 29) that Michael Faulds and Eric Laflamme have been named the offensive and defensive co-ordinators, respectively, of the Lions football team.

Both Faulds and Laflamme come to York from other Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) football programs. Faulds was the star quarterback of the Western Mustangs for the past five years while Laflamme was most recently an assistant coach with the Concordia Stingers.

Faulds is a recent graduate of the University of Western Ontario with a master’s degree in coaching. He has worked at a number of football camps over the past few years, including as the offensive co-ordinator for the First Round Football Skills Camp and as the quarterbacks coach with the Mustangs.

His on-field achievements in Ontario University Athletics (OUA) and the CIS are well-documented. He led the Mustangs to back-to-back Yates Cup championships in 2007 and 2008 – where he was named the game’s most valuable player both times – and finished his career in 2009 as the CIS all-time passing leader with a total of 10,811 yards. He was also named the OUA most valuable player last season and led the Mustangs back to the Yates Cup before falling to the Queen’s Gaels in an epic 43-39 final.

“We had some tough decisions to make for the offensive co-ordinator position and Michael’s name just kept rising to the top,” said Lions head coach Warren Craney. “His football pedigree is legendary, from being a high school standout at St. Andrew’s to leading Team Canada at the Global Junior Championships and culminating his celebrated collegiate career at the University of Western Ontario. His knowledge of the game, passion and work ethic were the exact qualities we were looking for.”

Laflamme’s arrival at York unites him withCraney, who he previously worked with last season at Concordia and also for three years in the late ‘90s at Vanier College. He brings to the Lions 14 years of coaching experience, including eight in the CIS assisting the defensive co-ordinator and coaching the defensive front.

In addition to his one year with the Stingers, Laflamme spent seven seasons with the Montreal Carabins after joining the coaching staff in 2002 for the team’s inaugural season. While at Montreal, he coached defensive lineman Nicholas Morin-Soucy, who was a sixth-round Canadian Football League (CFL) draft pick in 2008.

“Eric is one of the best defensive coaches I have had the pleasure of working with,” said Craney. “His eight years of CIS experience working with numerous all-Canadians at the University of Montreal will have an immediate impact on the York football program. Eric’s rise to becoming a defensive co-ordinator was long overdue.”

Laflamme has also worked as the defensive line coach for under-18 and under-19 Quebec teams competing at the Canada Cup and helped out at a Quebec selection camp for Football Canada.

“A strong, competitive football program is essential to the reputation and success of the university, and the addition of Eric and Michael continues to signal our commitment to a strong, sustainable team,” said Jennifer Myers, director of Sport & Recreation at York. “The talent, enthusiasm and dedication they both bring to the table is exactly what we are looking for moving forward.”

The York Lions football team will kick off the 2010 season on Labour Day (Sept. 6) at home against the Guelph Gryphons. The game will begin at 1pm at York Stadium.