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November 29, 2013 | Football

Stingers move forward with search for football coach

The search for a new head coach of the Concordia Stingers football team is under way and a distinguished group of football professionals will lend its expertise to the process.

This committee of five very accomplished individuals has agreed to evaluate the applications and recommend finalists for interviews. 

“We have recruited individuals who are familiar with the rich football tradition at Concordia,” says Patrick Boivin, Concordia’s director of Recreation and Athletics. “Seeking such expertise is a new direction for us and signals a new era for our football program. I look forward to working closely with this evaluation committee throughout the process.”

The following people will serve on the evaluation committee:

Tom Allen – A true football icon in the province of Quebec, Allen’s 35-year career at Bishop’s University, included responsibilities as football coach, athletic director and dean of students. He has served as commissioner of RSEQ football for the past 11 years. His impressive sports résumé also includes three years as president of the CIS (1997-99) and most recently he was Chair of the Board and Executive Committee for the Canada Summer Games held in Sherbrooke last summer.

André Bolduc – One of the all-time great receivers to come out of the Stingers’ football program, Bolduc went on to play in the CFL with the Ottawa Rough Riders and Edmonton Eskimos before returning to Montreal for four seasons as a slotback and special teams captain. He retired after the 2001 season and embarked on a successful coaching career at Collège Momorency and Université de Sherbrooke where he turned a fledgling team into a top RSEQ contender. He played with the Stingers from 1992-95, earning all-star honours in his final two seasons.

Sylvain Girard – One of the most popular and accomplished players in the history of Concordia football, Girard went on to play eight seasons with the Montreal Alouettes. The wide receiver won a Grey Cup in 2002. He played with the Stingers from 1995-98, attracting the attention of NFL clubs. He signed as a free agent with the Cleveland Browns and attended their training camp in 1999. He is currently the athletic co-ordinator at Collège Ste-Anne in Lachine, Que.

Liam Mahoney – A star receiver/quarterback for four years with the Stingers, Mahoney was drafted by the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in 2011. He went on to play with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. During his university career he was the CIS Rookie of the Year in 2007 and a second team all-Canadian in 2010. Before joining the Stingers, he was one of the most sought after recruits in CIS football having enjoyed an exceptional CEGEP career with the Vanier Cheetahs.

Pat Sheahan – The legendary coach is currently at the helm of the Queen’s Gaels football program, a position he has held since 2000. He led the Gaels to a Vanier Cup championship in 2009. Sheahan began his career as assistant head coach with the McGill Redmen in 1984 and held that position until 1988, winning his first national championship in 1987. He was hired as head coach for the Stingers in 1989 and led the program to its only Vanier Cup appearance in 1998. In 11 seasons at Concordia he compiled a regular season record of 48-33-1.

Potential candidates can express their interest in the position via e-mail to patrick.boivin@concordia.ca. Please note that no telephone inquiries will be accepted.

The deadline to apply is Friday, Dec. 13, at 5 p.m. EST.

Recruiting for Stingers continues

As the Recreation and Athletics Department is working towards a new and exciting period in Concordia football, the coaches are working hard on recruiting for the future. The Stingers are pleased to announce the following athletes have signed CIS letters of intent:

Jérémy Pelletier – LB - Vanier College

Christophe Hardy – LB - Cégep Drummondville

Chris Occil – DE – John Abbott College

Marc-Antoine Sévigny – OL – Collège Édouard Montpetit

Frédéric Vezina-Lavergne – LB – Champlain College, St. Lambert

Akeem Hoyte-Charles – REC – Châteauguay Raiders (Junior)/Vanier

“As a program with a proven track record of graduating its football players to the CFL, and as we strive to achieve new levels of excellence on the field, we would also like to extend our congratulations to the Saskatchewan Roughriders and Laval Rouge et Or on their respective championships last weekend,” adds Boivin.