Gerry McGrath announces changes to football coaching staff

Luc Pelland and Shawn Mayne take on co-ordinator positions

Head coach Gerry McGrath is pleased to announce two members of the Concordia Stingers football program have accepted invitations take on new responsibilities.

 

Luc Pelland will take over as defensive co-ordinator and Shawn Mayne will take charge of the special teams, effective Dec. 1. Working along side McGrath and assistant Bryan Chiu, both will also be heavily involved in recruiting, especially in Quebec.

Pelland, who played linebacker for the Stingers for five seasons, was one of the most accomplished student-athletes in the history of Concordia football. He wore the Maroon and Gold from 1990 through 1994 and during that time he was a two-time all-Canadian and a two-time CIAU academic all-Canadian. He was also named the O-QIFC’s outstanding defensive player in 1994.

After graduating with a degree in Economics, the Châteauguay, Que. native went to training camp with the Ottawa Rough Riders in 1995 and the Montreal Alouettes in 1996.

His coaching career began in 1995 when he went to France to run the Thonon-les-Bains Black Panthers. He has also worked as an assistant with the Châteauguay Raiders junior program, helping them win the Manson Cup championship in 2004. He joined the staff of the Vanier College Cheetahs in 2005 and was the defensive co-ordinator when they won the Bol d’Or in 2006.

Pelland returned to the Stingers as the linebacker coach in 2007. He has been instrumental in the development of two President’s Trophy winners – Cory Greenwood (2009), who is now a member of the NFL’s Kansas City Chiefs, and Max Caron (2011). Despite his new responsibilities, he will continue to work on the development of Concordia’s linebackers.

Pelland has also worked with the Football Quebec excellence program since 2006. He was the defensive co-ordinator and linebacker coach with the Quebec U18 team that won the Canada Cup in July 2012.

Mayne, a native of Montreal, started playing football in the Sun Youth Hornet organization and then joined the Vanier Cheetahs. From there he earned an NCAA scholarship to University of Connecticut and was a defensive end with the Huskies’ program from 2002 through 2005. He completed his degree in Sociology in 2007.

In 2006, Mayne was drafted by the CFL’s Hamilton Tiger-Cats in the third round, 18^th overall. He went on to enjoy a six-year career in the professional ranks splitting his time between the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and the Montreal Alouettes. He earned two Grey Cup rings as a member of the Als.

He hung up his cleats in 2011 and began a coaching career as the defensive line coach with the Vanier Cheetahs. He joined the Stingers in the same capacity in 2012.

Coach McGrath wishes to express his gratitude to Phil Roberts, who is leaving the team after commuting daily from Ottawa to co-ordinate the defence for the last three seasons. Roberts has the greatest respect for the program and will continue to be one of the Stingers’ many supporters for years to come.