Former Sherbrooke head coach now with the Redmen

MONTREAL – David Lessard has been appointed as a full-time assistant coach with the McGill University football team. The announcement was made by head coach Ronald Hilaire during the team’s spring camp, which began on Feb. 27 and concludes today (Mar.3).

“Having Coach Lessard on board is a big plus for our program,” said Hilaire. “He has two decades of coaching experience, including 14 years at the university level with two of our competitors. He has always been a student of the game and will be of great value to our o-line.”

Lessard, a 39-year-old native of Ste. Julie, Que., will be responsible for the offensive line and also oversee the team’s academic support portfolio. He replaces Alain Mainguy, who left recently to pursue other opportunities.

“My initial plan was to take the year off coaching,” said Lessard. “The reason I’ve decided to go against my plan was the McGill coaching staff starting with coach Hilaire. I think everything is in place to build a successful program and I couldn’t pass on the chance to join the Redmen.”

A McGill graduate who once tried out for the Redmen but had his football career cut short by injury and turned to coaching. Lessard earned an undergraduate degree in psychology (2000) followed by a certificate in human resources management (2007) from HEC Montréal. He is no stranger to the RSEQ conference, having coached four seasons with the Montréal Carabins (2003-2006), followed by 10 years of experience with the Sherbrooke Vert & Or (2007-2016). He served his first five years in Sherbrooke as offensive coordinator and the last five as head coach — from 2012 to 2016 — guiding the team to four playoff berths and a 23-23 record.

He has attended numerous coaching camps with the NFL’s Cincinnati Bengals (2005-2014) and Chicago Bears (2005), in addition to the CFL’s Edmonton Eskimos (2005) and the NCAA’s Boston College Eagles (2004 & 2005).

Lessard began his coaching career as an assistant in 1998 at the high school level with École secondaire Gérard-Filion, then moved up the ladder two years later to Collège Édouard-Montpetit, where he was eventually elevated to offensive coordinator in 2002. He was also part of Football Quebec’s program of excellence, leading the under-17 team to national titles in 2007 and 2008.

 

Source: Earl Zukerman, McGill Athletics