Concordia Stingers head coach Gerry McGrath and defensive co-ordinator Warren Craney are packing their bags and heading out West where they’ll serve as guest coaches at training camp with the CFL Grey Cup champion Saskatchewan Roughriders.
McGrath spent seven seasons as a kicker in the CFL with Saskatchewan, Ottawa, Toronto and Montreal. This will be his 13th CFL camp – he attended nine as an athlete and has been a guest coach at another four.
“It’s a great opportunity,” says McGrath. “It gives me a chance to work with some top coaches. Last year, I sat in on all the quarterback meetings. It was tremendous. I learned a lot of shortcuts and a lot about communicating reads.”
Of course, McGrath’s a guru when it comes to the kicking game. For the second straight year he will work with kicker Luca Congi and punter Jamie Boreham.
McGrath will spend 17 days with the Roughriders and has been invited to the team’s Grey Cup ring ceremony and dinner this weekend.
Craney will spend a week with Saskatchewan defensive co-ordinator Richie Hall.
“It’s tremendous for Warren to spend this time with Richie Hall who we have the greatest respect for as a coach and a person,” says McGrath.
The Stingers will open their training camp on Aug. 15 at Concordia Stadium. They’ll have just a few days to get rolling before McGrath and 60 of his players and staff leave for Saskatchewan where Concordia will play an exhibition game versus the University of Saskatchewan Huskies on Aug. 23.
