Thorpe new DC with Carabins: Touchette to consider options

The Montreal Carabins football team is pleased to announce the appointment of Noel Thorpe to the position of defensive coordinator. In charge of special teams and heavily involved in the defensive game plan in 2011, the experienced coach has agreed to a three-year contract.

Prior to joining the Carabins, Thorpe had a successful career in the Canadian Football League (CFL). He participated in four Grey Cup finals, having won in 2002 with the Montreal Alouettes, a year he coached the defensive backs and special teams (from 2002 to 2007). From 2008 to 2010, he played the same role with the Edmonton Eskimos, and he acted as assistant head coach in 2009 and 2010. He had previously made his mark in the CIS as defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach of the UBC Thunderbirds, with whom he got won a Vanier Cup in 1997.

Denis Touchette

Thorpe replaces Denis Touchette who held this position during the five previous seasons. The latter is currently in discussions with the organization to determine the role he could play.
“Denis has done an excellent job”, said head coach Carabins, Danny Maciocia. “I respect him a lot as a coach and as a person. However, I had a difficult decision regarding the direction of our defense”, said the one who worked with Thorpe in the Alouettes and Eskimos.

“The opportunity to hire a coach the caliber of Noel Thorpe is very rare. This decision takes absolutely nothing away to the qualities of Denis and everything he has done for our team. ”

Thorpe excited by the group of players at his disposal

This appointment is a kind of official return to Montreal for Noel Thorpe, who has spent several months separated from his family, who remained in Edmonton during the last season.
“We are very excited about returning to Montreal”, said Thorpe. “My daughter was born when I was with the Alouettes. My wife and I enjoyed our experience. ”

“Noel had agreed to give me a hand for my first season here”, said Maciocia. “If someone had told me a few weeks ago that he would be willing to relocate his family to Montreal, I would not have believed it. It’s a very big decision for him. ”

“I really look forward to continuing the work started this fall with our players on defense”, said Thorpe. “This is an exceptional group that will continue to be highly successful.”

“I want to thank Danny. I was lucky enough to know him in the professional ranks for several years. I now have the desire to help young people become men, both on and off field. I could have considered other options, but I do not want to be anywhere else but the UdeM, a first class organization that puts its priorities in the right place. ”

During his stay in the CFL, Thorpe has worked closely with many famous coaches like Rod Rust, Don Matthews and Chris Jones. He also contributed greatly to the development of leading players such as Davis Sanchez, Timothy Strickland, TJ Hill and Chip Cox.

Great opportunities for advancement

Carabins also announced the departure of their offensive line coach, Claude Juneau, who has accepted a new position as a football coach at a high school that will be publicly announced next week.

Earlier this week, the football team of the Collège Montmorency Nomades has announced the appointment of Paul Eddy St. Vilien to the position of head coach. He led the defensive backs of the Carabins the last four years. He will be assisted by Yanick Clement and Nicolas Melsbach who was also part of the coaching staff of the UdeM.

“Becoming a head coach was in my plans and it is an important step in my journey”, said St. Vilien. “I will always be a Carabin and we will help prepare players to continue their college career at the UdeM. ”

“I want to congratulate and thank these four coaches who got all the exciting promotions”, said Maciocia. “Whether it’s our players or our coaches, we have at heart their development and we will always do what is necessary to enable them to progress. It’s definitely a good sign for our program to see our coaches approached in this way. ”

“We already have a plan in place and many excellent candidates are interested in joining our coaching staff. We hope to be able to announce some soon. ”

Bottom photo Crédit : James Hajjar