Head coach Brad Collinson is pleased to announce some key additions who will bring a wealth of experience to his 2023 Concordia Stingers football coaching staff.
Joining the Stingers are three well-known and highly respected coaches: Paul Eddy Saint-Vilien, defensive co-ordinator; Justin Chapdelaine, offensive assistant and Nicholas Melsbach, defensive assistant.
“I’m very excited to be able to work with these coaches on a daily basis and can’t wait to introduce them to the team when we return from the holiday break,” said Collinson.
Paul Eddy Saint-Vilien
Saint-Vilien returns to his native Montreal after coaching in the Ottawa region for five years. Last season, he was a defensive assistant with the Ottawa RedBlacks in the CFL. Before that he spent four years as the Carleton Ravens’ defensive co-ordinator. He also served as the OUA university’s interim head coach for several months.
He has a solid coaching résumé in Quebec as well. Saint-Vilien took on the linebacker coaching duties and served as defensive co-ordinator with the Montréal Carabins over a four-year span, including the Vanier Cup championship season in 2014. He also worked with Collinson in 2015, coaching Team Quebec and Team Canada.
“I’m really happy to be working with him again,” said Collinson. “He’s an excellent fit for our program and I can’t wait to get started. He is also an exceptional recruiter and that’s extremely important in our league.”
At the Cégep level, Saint-Vilien was the head coach at Collège Montmorency in 2012 and 2013.
He played football at Vieux-Montréal where he wrapped up his Cégep career as a two-time Bol d’Or champion and an all-star defensive back in 1999. He went on to join the Laval Rouge et Or in 2000.
Justin Chapdelaine
Chapdelaine joins the Stingers as an offensive assistant. He brings with him extensive experience garnered from coaching roles across the country at the university and CFL levels.
“I feel very fortunate to be able to add a coach of Justin’s calibre to our staff,” said Collinson. “He has a great offensive mind that will really add value and benefit our team. Justin also knows our league well and is a strong recruiter.”
Most recently, Chapdelaine was the Sherbrooke Vert & Or’s receiver coach and offensive co-ordinator, a position he’s held since 2019. He served as offensive co-ordinator and quarterback coach with the Bishop’s Gaiters in 2018. His university coaching experience also includes time at Simon Fraser University, with the Calgary Dinos and with the Queen’s Gaels where he started his coaching journey as a graduate assistant.
Chapdelaine picked up valuable experience in the CFL as an offensive assistant with the Saskatchewan Roughriders in 2015 and as the receivers coach with the Montreal Alouettes in 2017.
He also worked with Team Quebec’s U16 program, serving as offensive co-ordinator and quarterback coach in 2018 and 2019.
As a player, Chapdelaine was a receiver and quarterback with Queen’s from 2009 to 2013 and was part of the Gaels’ Vanier Cup championship team in 2009.
Nicholas Melsbach
Melsbach will take on the responsibilities for the linebackers and serve as a defensive assistant. He comes to Concordia from Cégep Édouard-Montpetit where he has coached for 10 years, including the last seven as head coach. During his time with the Lynx, he was also the defensive co-ordinator for nine seasons and in 2022 he co-ordinated the offence.
His résumé includes one year as defensive co-ordinator at Montmorency (2012), two seasons as a defensive coach at Université de Montréal (2010 and 2011) and he was the linebacker coach with Team Quebec in 2019.
“Nicholas and I go back a long way,” said Collinson. “I know him well and have a high opinion of his work as a long-time head coach at the Cégep and high school levels. He brings a lot of experience to our program and he has a great ability to assess talent.
Originally from St. Bruno, Que., Melsbach played Cégep football at Vieux-Montréal (1997-2000) where he was a team captain and two-time Bol d’Or champion.
Announcements with regards to the addition of several new position coaches will be posted on the Stingers social media accounts over the next several days.
