Intrigue and suspense surrounds SMU head coaching vacancy

Even though the application deadline is on Friday for the head coaching position with the Saint Mary’s University Huskies (SMU), there’s a lot of intrigue and suspense as to what direction the university plans to go in the future.

The position at SMU became vacant on December 5th 2011, when the university said it would not be renewing the contract of Steve Sumarah. His contract was set to expire on March 1, 2012.

Sumarah was released after being in the position for seven years (regular season record 29-12, AUS final record 4-3). During his tenure, SMU reached the Vanier Cup in 2007 but lost to Manitoba Bisons in the final. Sumarah was the first Nova Scotian born head coach in the CIS.

SMU Athletic Director Steve Sarty disclosed to Metro News last week that the university has received a lot of interest in the position. After Friday’s closing date, first interviews will take place and a subsequent shortlist will be created from the pool of applicants.

One thing applicants do not require is previous experience as a Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) head coach. The two previous head coaches at SMU (Sumarah and Blake Nill), did not possess that experience prior to taking on the role. However, what SMU is looking for is an effective leader and communicator who cares about the program and players.

An announcement on the head coaching position is not expected until the middle of February.

While there may not presently be a head coach, SMU’s recruitment efforts are still ongoing. Sarty is actively involved in the process with current co-directors of recruiting: defensive coordinator Devin Murphy and special teams coordinator Pierre Lefebvre (both were in those positions when Sumarah was head coach).

There is plenty of talk around football circles regarding the potential candidates for the head coaching vacancy. Here are five names being discussed:

Dennis McPhee:
This past November, McPhee resigned from the Waterloo Warriors after five seasons as head coach. He helped the team weather a turbulent storm after they were plagued with a performance-enhancing drug scandal in 2010. He left the Warriors with a record of 7-25 and no playoff appearances.

Before the Warriors, McPhee was the head coach with the St. Francis Xavier X-Men. For his efforts in turning the X-Men football program into a successful one, McPhee was named AUS coach of the year in 2002. Previous to that, McPhee was an assistant coach with the CFL’s Hamilton Tiger-Cats for 10 years and was an assistant coach with the Guelph Gryphons.

Mike McLean:
McLean is no stranger to the Huskies football program. He was the defensive coordinator of the Huskies from 2005-2007. In 2007, he guided the Huskies defense to success on the field as the unit was ranked first in the CIS in yards allowed during the regular season. Also, it was that same year the team made their last appearance at the Vanier Cup.

There is CIS head coaching experience on MacLean’s resume. He was the head coach of the York Lions for two seasons (2008, 2009). Furthermore, MacLean was the head coach of the Edmonton Huskies of the Canadian Junior Football League (CJFL). During his tenure, MacLean led the team to two straight league championships in 2004 and 2005. He was selected as Football Alberta’s Coach of the Year in 2004.

Not only is his coaching experience impressive, but so is his playing career. As a linebacker with the Edmonton Eskimos from 1985 to 1992, McLean helped the team win a Grey Cup in 1987. In the CIS, he was a four time captain with the Alberta Golden Bears from 1981-1985. During his time with the Golden Bears, McLean was a CIS all-Canadian in 1985 and two time Canada West all-star (1983 and 1985).

Perry Marchese:
Marchese has extensive football experience. Currently, he is the elite program coordinator of the Ontario Football Alliance (OFA). As for CIS experience, he was the offensive coordinator with the Guelph Gryphons in 2010. Marchese resigned from that position in the spring of 2011.

With the CFL’s Toronto Argonauts, Marchese was the offensive assistant (2004) and running backs coach (2005). He was also an offensive assistant with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in 2006. Additionally, Marchese coached six seasons with the Steel City Ironmen in the Ontario Varsity Football League (OVFL). With Team Ontario, he guided them to two straight national championships (2002-2003). In 2009, he was the offensive coordinator with the Bishop’s Gaiters.

Marchese’s connection with Saint Mary’s is that he graduated in 1997 from the university with a master’s degree in business administration and was quarterback with the football Huskies.

Gavin Lake:
Most recently, Lake served as head coach with the Amstetten Thunder in the Europe second division. In 2010, he was the offensive assistant coach with the Calgary Dinos under Blake Nill. He played a key role in the Dinos’ success as the team reached the Vanier Cup final that year.

In 2008, he was head of football operations, offensive assistant and running backs coach for the Vancouver Island Raiders of the Canadian Junior Football League (CJFL). In that season, the Raiders won the championship title.

Furthermore, he was the defensive secondary assistant coach for the CFL’s B.C. Lions in 2007. Previous to that, Lake was the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach for the Simon Fraser University Clansmen.

No stranger to the SMU program, he was the defensive backs coach for the Huskies from 2003 to 2005 (when Nill was head coach).

Terry Baker:
Baker had a successful 16 year career as a punter, placekicker, and field goal kicker in the CFL (1987-2002). Additionally, he led the CFL in league scoring in the 1998 and 2000 seasons. Baker won two Grey Cups: in 1989 with the Saskatchewan Roughriders and in 2002 with the Montreal Alouettes.

During his time with the Alouettes, Baker earned all-Canadian honours in 2001. The other two teams he played for in the league were Toronto Argonauts and the Ottawa Rough Riders.

After he retired from the CFL, Baker had short stints as a special teams coach in the CIS with the Acadia Axemen and the SMU Huskies. Not only is there familiarity with the AUS as a coach, but he played university football with the Mount Allison Mounties.

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