Saskatchewan Huskies announce Special Teams staff

University of Saskatchewan football head coach Scott Flory announced his special teams staff for the 2017 season Tuesday morning highlighted by veteran coach Jerry Friesen.  

A member of the University of Saskatchewan Athletic Wall of Fame and the Saskatoon Sports Hall of Fame, Friesen joins the Huskies with 25 years coaching experience in both U SPORTS and the Canadian Football League.

“Jerry coming back to Saskatoon is a huge win for the city, our program and our athletes,” said Flory.  “His experience and knowledge is second to none.  With Jerry having been a head coach, he will be a great resource for me as a new head coach.  I am thrilled he’s decided to rejoin the Huskie family!”

Friesen joined the Huskies’ coaching staff in 1986, staying for 10 seasons and winning the 1990 Vanier Cup. After a year with the Saskatchewan Roughriders in the CFL as linebacker coach, Friesen joined the Calgary Dinos as defensive coordinator. He spent the next 10 seasons as head coach of the Alberta Golden Bears and was named national coach of the year in 2004. 

As a player, Friesen spent five seasons with the Huskies before being drafted by the Montreal Alouettes in 1978. He played nine seasons in the CFL with the Alouettes and Roughriders.  As a Huskie, the linebacker was a conference all-star for three straight seasons and an All-Canadian twice.

Friesen will also serve as a senior advisor to Flory.

Joining Friesen on the special teams’ staff is former Huskies’ kicker and 2016 staff member Braden Suchan.

“Braden will work exclusively with our kickers,” said Flory.  “What he did last year was nothing short of remarkable.  Sean Stenger had an All-Canadian season in large part to Braden.  He is a trusted ear for our kickers who is also technically as good as it gets when it comes to kicking the football.”

Flory also announced Joel Lipinski as the team’s Strength and Condition Coordinator, as well as Attila Nadori as the recruiting coordinator.

Lipinski played university football for the Saint Mary’s Huskies and Regina Rams, as well as in the CJFL with the Vancouver Island Raiders. He spent time in the CFL with the Edmonton Eskimos and Saskatchewan Roughriders.  As an athlete, Lipinski was named an All-Canadian cornerback with the Rams and an All-Canadian at halfback with the Huskies. He also played for Team Canada in the IFAF World Championship in Austria.

Lipinski is the co-owner of Ignite Athletic Conditioning. He is a certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist with the National Strength and Conditioning Association and is a Nutrition Coach through Precision Nutrition.

“Joel’s primary objective will be heading up the physical training and development of our athletes,” said Flory. “Joel is a world class strength coach and knows the game of football having played professionally in the CFL.  He’s a great teacher and has a ton of energy.  He is also the Head Strength and Conditioning coach for Football Canada and will also be working with our Defensive Backs.  I am really excited Joel is on board!”

Nadori joined the Huskies as a graduate assistant in 2015. Nadori was an assistant coach at Fordham University and has a Masters in Science.

“A Calgary native and College of Law student, Attila will bring passion and much needed structure to the recruiting process for us,” said Flory.  “He is detailed, organized and experienced given his time at Fordham University in New York.”

The defensive assistants will be announced Wednesday.

Huskies’ 2017 Spring Camp kicks off Thursday with the 17^th annual Dogs’ Breakfast featuring guest speaker Henry Burris.

Offensive Staff
Jerry Friesen – special teams coordinator & senior advisor
Braden Suchan – kickers

Other Staff
Joel Lipinski – strength & conditioning/defensive assistant
Attila Nadori – recruiting coordinator

Full Special Teams Biographies

Jerry Friesen – Special Teams Coordinator & Senior Advisor

A member of the University of Saskatchewan Athletic Wall of Fame and the Saskatoon Sports Hall of Fame, Jerry Friesen joins the Huskies with 25 years coaching experience in both U SPORTS and the Canadian Football League.

Friesen joined the Huskies’ coaching staff in 1986, staying for 10 seasons and winning the 1990 Vanier Cup. After a year with the Saskatchewan Roughriders in the CFL as linebacker coach, Friesen joined the Calgary Dinos as defensive coordinator. He spent the next 10 season as head coach of the Alberta Golden Bears and was named national coach of the year in 2004. 

As a player, Friesen spent five seasons with the Huskies before being drafted by the Montreal Alouettes in 1978. He played nine seasons in the CFL with the Alouettes and Roughriders.  As a Huskie, the linebacker was a conference all-star for three straight seasons and an All-Canadian twice. He has a degree from the College of Education. 

Braden Suchan – Kickers

Former University of Saskatchewan kicker Braden Suchan joined the Huskie football team as a special teams assistant in 2016.   Suchan had a successful playing career as a member of the Huskies football team from 2004-07. The Edwards School of Business graduate made three Vanier Cup appearances with the Huskies and was named a Canada West All-Star and a CIS Second Team All-Canadian in 2006. He is third on the Huskie Athletics Career list for points scored at 221.

As a coach, Suchan has assisted at various football camps from minor football to University.  He is married to Lauren and has three children, daughter, Blake and twin boys, Maddux and Kellen.

Full Staff Biographies

Joel Lipinski – Strength & Conditioning/Defensive Backs

Joel Lipinski played university football for the Saint Mary’s Huskies and Regina Rams, as well as in the CJFL with the Vancouver Island Raiders. He spent time in the CFL with the Edmonton Eskimos and Saskatchewan Roughriders.

As an athlete, Lipinski was named an All-Canadian cornerback with the Rams and an All-Canadian at halfback with the Huskies. He also played for Team Canada in the IFAF World Championship in Austria.

Lipinski is the co-owner of Ignite Athletic Conditioning. He is a certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist with the National Strength and Conditioning Association and is a Nutrition Coach through Precision Nutrition.

Attila Nadori – Recruiting Coordinator

Attila Nadori joined the Huskies as a graduate assistant in 2015. Nadori was an assistant coach at Fordham University and has a Masters in Science.

Source: University of Saskatchewan Huskies