Next step in SMU head coach search takes place: McPhee opts out

UPDATED @ 3:30pm

Suspense continues to mount as Saint Mary’s University (SMU) is another step closer towards finding a new head coach for their football program.

SMU Athletic Director Steve Sarty describes the pool of applicants and the next plan of action in their search.

“We had 16 applicants of varying levels of experiences,” explains Sarty. “We begin phone interviews this week with our top five candidates and will interview the two to three short listed candidates face to face February 6th.”

Among the candidates are believed to be Leroy Blugh, Perry Marchese, Gavin Lake, Mike McLean, Terry Baker, Heath Weir and Todd Galloway. Sources say that many people were phone interviewed but Sarty has confirmed only 5 phone interviews were conducted.

An announcement on the head coaching vacancy is expected in the middle of February.

However, leading candidate Dennis McPhee, pulled his name out of contention just before the phone interviews were set to take place. Even though the former Waterloo and St. Francis Xavier coach waited until the last day of the SMU posting to apply for the vacancy, he has opted to head over to Western to become part of the Mustangs football program.

At this point, the front runners for the position appear to be Marchese and Blugh. Meanwhile, the dark horses are Galloway, McLean, and Lake. However, Galloway disputes being a candidate for the SMU vacancy as he has denied applying for the position.

While they are looking for a fresh face to lead the football program, the selections committee is also looking for someone with ties to SMU and the Southern Ontario region.

Furthermore, the university is looking for an effective leader and communicator who is passionate about the program and players. Overall, they want a head coach who embodies yet understands the football tradition and history of the SMU Huskies.

The selections committee for the head coaching vacancy consists of SMU Athletic Director Steve Sarty, Huskies receivers coach/hall of famer Bill Scollard, Huskies defensive lines coach Joe Taplin and two members of the Old Dogs Booster Club.

Even though it is the off-season, recruitment is center stage for many universities. While SMU recruitment is ongoing, not having a leader or face of the program has hurt the university. Other Atlantic University Sport (AUS) football programs have benefitted from the situation at SMU. Players are leaning towards schools other than the Halifax university.

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Coaching Photos:
Top – Heath Weir
Middle – Leroy Blugh
Bottom – Todd Galloway