University of Toronto Varsity Blues football head coach Greg Gary is pleased to announce the complete coaching staff complement for the upcoming 2017 season.
With the recent additions of full-time offensive and defensive coordinators Mark Surya and Bob Mullen, the Blues also welcome back Donnavan Carter as the team’s special teams coordinator and linebackers coach.
Carter rejoins the Blues after a season as the Guelph Gryphons recruiting coordinator and defensive backs coach. He served as U of T’s defensive coordinator for two seasons (2011, 2012) before becoming the Windsor Lancers associate head coach from 2013-16. Over his eight year CFL playing career, Carter was a starter at the safety and linebacker positions with the Toronto Argonauts, Ottawa Renegades, Hamilton Tiger-Cats and Winnipeg Blue Bombers. As team captain for the Renegades in 2003, he was selected as a Canadian Football League Players Association all-star at the free safety position.
Returning to his roots is defensive line coach Bob Howes. Howes served as U of T’s Director of Football in 2008, after previously coaching the Blues in 2003 and 2004. His illustrious football resume includes five Grey Cup rings as a team captain of the Edmonton Eskimos (1975, 1978-81) and serving as the 1992 Vanier Cup champion Queen’s Gaels offensive coordinator.
A new face to the team in 2017 is academic support coordinator and defensive backs assistant Gord Gallimore. Gallimore comes to U of T after five seasons as the StFX X-Men recruiting coordinator, special teams assistant, speed training, academic support and defensive backs coach. In addition to his U SPORTS coaching career, he has been a head coach, defensive coordinator and also the special teams coach with the OVFL’s Mississauga Warriors Football Club. He played his U SPORTS football as a defensive back at Acadia as well as at U of T’s crosstown rival York University.
Familiar faces back on the Blues sideline include Joe Cappiello, recruiting coordinator and defensive line coach; Peter Woo and Brent Weir, offensive line coaches; quarterbacks coach Manfred Sittman; running back coaches Ozzie Blackett and Ross Asaro; all-time U of T career receiving yards leader Paul de Pass with the receivers; and Lawrence Hopper as an offensive assistant coach. Former CFL’er Billy Pavlopoulos will also join the staff as the Blues new kicking coach.
The Varsity Blues kick off their 156th season on Sunday, August 27 when they travel to Laurier to take on the defending Yates Cup champion Golden Hawks. Following the trip to Laurier, U of T opens their home schedule and returns to Varsity Stadium for a Labour Day clash with the Windsor Lancers on Monday, September 4.
2017 Coaching Staff
| Coach | Title |
| Greg Gary | Head Coach & Manager of Football Operations |
| Mark Surya | Offensive Coordinator |
| Bob Mullen | Defensive Coordinator & Defensive Backs Coach |
| Donnavan Carter | Special Teams Coordinator & Linebackers Coach |
| Joe Cappiello | Recruiting Coordinator & Defensive Line Coach |
| Bob Howes | Defensive Line Coach |
| Gord Gallimore | Academic Support Coordinator & Defensive Backs Assistant |
| Peter Woo | Offensive Line Coach |
| Brent Weir | Offensive Line Coach |
| Manfred Sittman | Quarterbacks Coach |
| Ozzie Blackett | Running Backs Coach |
| Ross Asaro | Fullbacks Coach |
| Paul de Pass | Receivers Coach |
| Lawrence Hopper | Offensive Assistant |
| Billy Pavlopoulos | Kicking Coach |
| Adrian Lightowler | Strength & Conditioning Head Coach |
| Harrison Beeforth | Strength & Conditioning Coach |
| Erin Brooks | Athletic Therapist |
| Sam Asaro | Assistant Manager, Sports Equipment |
| Jordan Brown | Video Coordinator |
| Eryn Weldon | Administrative Assistant |
Source: Varsity Blues Athletics
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