Football Nova Scotia announces under-16 provincial team staff

Football Nova Scotia is pleased to announce its coaching staff for the provincial under-16 team for this season.

The head coach of the team will be Chris Valardo, who is currently the Vice President of High Performance with Football Nova Scotia. Growing up in Saint John, Valardo played football at the high school level in the region. During his high school career, he was a two time MVP and a league all-star. Additionally, the Team Nova Scotia head coach had a successful university football and wrestling career with the Mount Allison Mounties (1986-1990).

Valardo commenced his coaching career with Saint John High, where he led the team to seven conference championships during his tenure (1990-1998). As a provincial coach, Valardo has instructed Team New Brunswick (1994-1995). Moreover, he was head coach of the Team Nova Scotia under-17 team that were undefeated at the Wilson Cup in Montreal and placed fourth at the Football Canada Cup in Wolfville. Last season, Valardo guided the under-16 provincial team to a bronze medal at the Red River Cup tournament in Manitoba.

When Valardo made the move to Nova Scotia from New Brunswick in 2002, he was instrumental in starting up the Fall River Dragons minor football program. This program has produced some of the best talent in the nation including Brian Jones, (Acadia commit), Max Townsend (Queen’s commit), Marcus MacIsaac (Acadia commit), and Kenzie MacNeil (Acadia). He has instructed at the high school level as a defensive coordinator at Lockview High School of the Nova Scotia Student Athletic Federation Football League (NSSAFFL) for three seasons, where he led the Dragons to two Tier 1 semi-final appearances. As for certification, Valardo holds NCCP Level 3 Technical Trained ICPC (offensive line trained).

Offensive coordinator of the under-16 team is Larry Priestnall. Priestnall has played, coached and has done administration work in football. During his playing career as a fullback with the Acadia Axemen, he was an AUS all-star, two time all-Canadian, and two time Vanier Cup winner. The former president of Football Nova Scotia completed his NCCP level 3 certification and coached at the bantam and junior varsity levels with the Valley Bulldogs. Currently, he is head coach of the Central Kings Gators of the NSSAFFL. In 2009, Priestnall got into the provincial coaching circuit as he was the running backs coach for the under-17 team. The next season (2010), he was the offensive coordinator of the under-18 team that participated in the Football Canada Cup in Wolfville. Recently, Priestnall was awarded the Rick Rivers Lifetime Achievement Award from Football Nova Scotia.

Defensive coordinator and special teams coach of the provincial team is Steve Watts, who brings the experience of being a defensive backs coach with the Saint Mary’s Huskies of the AUS. Watts also had a successful playing career as a defensive back with the Huskies and the University of Ottawa Gee Gees of the Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS).

Positional Coaches:

Quarterbacks Coach: Mack Blewett (Saint Mary’s Huskies: AUS/CIS)
Defensive Backs Coach: Keith Skiffington (Dalhousie Tigers: AFL)
Defensive Backs Coach: Bryce Fisher (Saint Mary’s Huskies AUS/CIS)
Defensive Line Coach: Steve Melanson (Horton Griffins: NSSAFFL)
Defensive Line Coach: Matt LaLande (Bedford/Sackville Minor)
Linebackers Coach: Steve Majury (Bedford Bantam)
Offensive Line Coach: Thomas Gibbons (Saint Mary’s Huskies: AUS/CIS)
Offensive Line Coach: Riley Brown (Saint Mary’s Huskies: AUS/CIS)
Receivers Coach: Dion Thomas-Hodges (Fall River Dragons Minor)

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