York tabs Karhut as new Special Teams Coordinator

TORONTO  – York University Lions football head coach Warren Craney announced on Monday that Ryan Karhut has been selected as the team’s new full-time special teams coordinator.

Karhut, originally from Regina and now living in Winnipeg, comes to York with more than 26 years of experience in the sport as a player and coach. Most recently, he was the head coach of the Winnipeg Rifles in the Canadian Junior Football League (CJFL) for two seasons.

“We feel like we have solidified one of the best coaching staffs in the country with the addition of Ryan, and we are excited to have him working with our promising young talent,” said Gillian McCullough, manager of interuniversity sport. “Our program is poised to take a big step this year, and Ryan has just further bolstered our confidence in where our football team is headed in the coming years.”

Karhut was a varsity player himself, spending one season at the University of Central Florida in 2004 before an impressive three-year career with the University of Manitoba from 2005-07 on the offensive line. While with the Bisons, he was a Canada West all-star in 2005 and, as a team captain, won the Hardy Cup and Vanier Cup in 2007. He was selected by the Saskatchewan Roughriders in the fifth round (39th overall) in the 2007 Canadian Football League (CFL) draft, and spent one season with the Montreal Alouettes in 2008 before retiring as a player.

“This is a great opportunity for me to work at a prestigious school with a strong coaching staff,” said Karhut. “Being able to work with Coach Craney was the biggest reason why coming to York was so appealing as I believe I will learn and develop myself as a coach tremendously under his guidance.

“I was fortunate to have a long playing career and have had a tremendous amount of fun coaching. I love the challenges that lay ahead of us at York and believe there is great potential and promise within this program. I am excited to arrive in Toronto to get to work with the coaches and players alike.”

Karhut made his CIS debut at the 2015 East West Bowl in Montreal, where he coached the defensive line for the West team.

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