Ottawa Gee-Gees begin chapter with new head coach & coaching staff

The University of Ottawa Gee-Gees began their spring camp on Thursday afternoon, the first under head coach Jamie Barresi. In the weeks leading up to camp, several notable coaches have been added to the staff.

Devin Murphy was named the team’s defensive coordinator in February. Murphy returns to University of Ottawa after five seasons on the sidelines at St. Mary’s University in the Atlantic University Sport conference. The Gee-Gee alumnus, who wore the garnet and grey from 2001-05, was the Huskies’ defensive coordinator for the past two seasons.

Joining Murphy on the defensive staff is Steven Watts, a full-time defensive assistant coach who will work primarily with the defensive backs. Watts also had a five-year career as a Gee-Gee player, spanning the 2003-07 seasons. Watts worked under Murphy at St. Mary’s as the defensive backs coach, and also coached the special teams unit last season. The Ottawa native is also the program’s coordinator of community development.

The homecoming defensive staff also includes Dan Laramee, who returns to the University of Ottawa sideline to work with the defensive line. Laramee is well-known to University of Ottawa football fans – he coached with the Gee-Gees’ 2000 Vanier Cup championship team and was the team’s defensive coordinator for the 2006 Yates Cup winning season. More recently, he mentored Murphy as the defensive coordinator at St. Mary’s from 2008-2010.

Michael Ireland, one of Laramee’s on-field protégés in 2006, will also assist the defensive line this season. Ireland played for the Gee-Gees from 2004-06, as did the Gee-Gees’ new linebackers coach, Cheeler Lindor. Lindor was a two-time OUA All-Star during his five year career from 2003-07.

Luigi Costanzo and David Miller-Johnson remain on the staff from last year. Costanzo continues his work as a full-time assistant coach: he is the recruiting coordinator as well as Special Teams coordinator and a running backs coach, while Miller-Johnston returns as the kickers coach, marking his eighth season with the Gee-Gees. Miller-Johnston has helped steer the career of two OUA field goal record-setters in his tenure with University of Ottawa.

On offence, the Gee-Gees welcome Bill MacDermott as the lead offensive line coach. ‘Coach Mac’ brings a wealth of experience to uOttawa from his fifty-year career as a football coach. A native of Providence, Rhode Island, MacDermott was the head coach at Wesleyan College for sixteen years before joining the CFL ranks in 1992. He has enjoyed a lengthy and successful CFL coaching career ever since, other than a two-year stint with the San Diego Chargers, and won three Grey Cups with Edmonton.

Also assisting with the offensive line are 2013 Gee-Gee graduate Kevin Magee, and Joey Kwasniewski. Kwasniewski is also the team’s lead strength and conditioning coach, leading the training regimen set out through King Football.

Jim Clark, who has been active in the Ottawa football scene in recent years with the Ashbury College Colts and the Ottawa Invaders, returns to the Gee-Gees as a running backs coach. Clark was the head coach at University of Ottawa for two seasons, 1983-84.

Other offensive assistants include Gee-Gees All-Canadian receiver Cyril Adjeitey and Aaron Geisler, an NCCP certified coach who recently served as a graduate assistant coach with the Western Mustangs.

The Gee-Gees spring camp runs until May 12 at 801 King Edward Avenue.

Gee-Gees Football Coaching Staff

DEFENCE:
*Devin Murphy – defensive coordinator
*Steven Watts – defensive backs coach
Dan Laramee – defensive line coach
Mike Ireland – defensive line coach
Cheeler Lindor – linebackers coach

OFFENCE:
*Jamie Barresi – offensive coordinator
Bill MacDermott – offensive line coach
Kevin Magee – offensive line coach
Joey Kwasniewski – offensive line coach
Jim Clark – running backs coach
Luigi Costanzo – running backs coach
Cyril Adjeitey – receivers coach
Aaron Geisler – receivers coach

SPECIAL TEAMS:
*Luigi Costanzo – special teams coordinator
David Miller-Johnston – kickers coach

*Full time