Former Dinos defensive boss Stevens sets up shop in Colts’ stable

CALGARY — The Calgary Colts’ most important recruit for the 2010 season
won’t be wearing a helmet and shoulder pads . . . he’ll be drawing up plays and
watching miles of videotape.

John Stevens, the University of Calgary Dinos’ defensive co-ordinator for the
past seven seasons, has joined the junior gridiron Colts in an identical capacity
as the 2008 Prairie Football Conference finalists take another run at their first
PFC gridiron title since 1990. Stevens, the 1997 Canadian Interuniversity Sport
coach of the year, was on the sidelines earlier this month as the Colts held their
annual spring camp at McMahon Stadium. The squad will next hit the field for its
main pre-season camp on Aug. 3 at McMahon.

“Football’s in his blood,” notes Colts head coach Keith Kendal, the Canadian
Junior Football League’s coach of the year in 2008. “We’re really lucky to have
John, because he’s got a vast library of knowledge, and we’ll be able to draw so
much on that.”
With Stevens at the helm of the U of C defence, the Dinos won back-to-back
Canada West championships in 2008 and 2009, advancing to the Vanier Cup
national final last November. Stevens was also head coach of the Antigonish,
N.S.-based St. Francis Xavier X-Men for 10 years, leading the X-Men to a Vanier
Cup appearance in 1996 and earning those national accolades a year later.
“I’d developed a pretty good friendship and association with Keith Kendal since
he took over the Colts again” in December 2005, says Stevens.

“I’ve got a lot of respect for what Keith and Rob McNab and Biagio Iannace have
done with the program. And if I was going to stay in Calgary, I thought joining the
Colts would be a great move to make.”

Stevens’ arrival means Iannace, who’s juggled defensive co-ordinator and
linebacker coaching roles for the Colts, will be able to concentrate on developing
the club’s linebackers.

Stevens, who grew up outside of Boston, played for five years on the defensive
line at Acadia University, helping the Axemen win a CIS title in 1979, earning
MVP honours in the Atlantic Bowl that same year, and winning a trio of Atlantic
all-star accolades during a very successful varsity career.
“I’m really impressed with the knowledge level of the players from southern
Alberta,” says Stevens. “There’s the experiences they get through the high
school and midget system, and a lot of the better players who come to the Colts
end up going through the (Football Alberta) South camp for the Senior Bowl, and
the (Football Canada Cup) experience. When they get through that, they’re pretty
good football players.

“I’m also impressed with the physical maturity of a lot of the players on the (Colts)
defence. They’re a little ahead of where I thought they would be.”
On the offensive side of the ball, Ray Salverda is now the club’s receivers coach,
after previously serving as quarterbacks coach. McNab will pick up those QB
coaching duties in addition to his role as offensive co-ordinator. Meanwhile,
Lorne Hass, in charge of the Colts’ special teams, will also oversee the club’s
running backs. The rest of the Colts’ coaching staff remains intact from the 2009
season. Adam Blasetti, assisted by Mitch Hoschka and Evan Haney, will guide
the offensive line; Yorgo Nikolakis and Mike Schwieder are in charge of the
defensive backfield; Ken Polson heads up linebackers; and Joe Swift and Ryan
Brouwers will handle the defensive line.

About 85 to 90 players are expected to congregate Aug. 3 for the Colts’ preseason
camp, with the 2010 season starting Aug. 21 in Edmonton against the
Huskies. The Colts will be holding spring practices on Sunday nights for
five weeks — on May 30, June 6, June 13, June 20, and June 27 — from 7 to
9 p.m. at McMahon. All media are welcome.

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ABOUT THE CALGARY COLTS: A member of the Canadian Junior Football League,
the Calgary Colts are a community-based organization that provides and promotes the
opportunity for young men aged 17 through 22 to play in a highly competitive football
environment and develop skills on and off the field through commitment to excellence.
The Colts were back-to-back CJFL champions in 1989 and 1990.

For more information:

Keith Kendal
John Stevens
Head Coach, Calgary Colts Defensive Co-ordinator, Calgary Colts
Phone: 403.815.9490 Phone: 403.836.1495