REGINA, Sask. – University of Regina Rams head coach Mike Gibson announced Wednesday that Mark McConkey has been named the team’s offensive coordinator, quarterbacks coach, and academic coach effective July 1.
“I’m extremely excited to add Mark to this coaching staff,” Gibson said. “I’ll call the offence this first season, but Mark is going to make significant contributions immediately as quarterbacks coach and academic coach and I fully expect him to grow into the coordinator role over time.
One of the most prolific receivers in Rams history, McConkey played from 2007 to 2013 with the Rams and finished his CIS career as the conference’s all-time leader in receptions. Currently a teacher at Greenall High School in Balgonie, McConkey also spent 2014 as a receivers coach with the Rams.
“As a former Ram, he brings instant credibility with the players,” Gibson said. “They’re going through right now what he experienced just a couple seasons ago. He comes from a coaching background, brings youthful enthusiasm to our staff, and it’s already obvious that he’s a great teacher on the football field.”
McConkey received a Bachelor of Kinesiology from the U of R in 2012 with a major in human kinetics, and earned a Bachelor of Education in 2014 with a major in physical education and a minor in health. He interned at Greenall before taking on a full-time role at the school last spring, teaching mainly Grade 9 and Grade 10 classes and serving as a coach with the Griffins’ football team and as the head coach of the school’s senior boys’ basketball team and the track & field teams.
His time at the U of R began after graduating from Lord Beaverbrook High School in Calgary back in 2007. McConkey redshirted the 2007 season with the Rams, and immediately jumped in as a key member of the team’s offence as a first-year player in 2008. His best statistical season was in 2010, setting career highs in both receptions (45) and receiving yards (509). After missing almost the entire 2012 campaign due to injury, McConkey collected 180 receptions in his career – a mark which stood as the most in Canada West history until former teammate Jared Janotta set the new standard at 191 last season.
McConkey was a Canada West all-star in 2011 and earned Academic All-Canadian status in his final season with the Rams.
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