±«ÓãÖ±²¥

News

2009 ±«ÓãÖ±²¥ football coaching staff announced

Published: 14 August 2009

MONTREAL - Sonny Wolfe, head coach and offensive coordinator of the ±«ÓãÖ±²¥ Redmen, has rounded out his 11-man coaching staff for the team's 129th season of football with the appointments of Jerome Erdman (defensive line & special teams), Matt Connell (QB assistant), Pat Donovan (linebackers), François Chagnon (offensive assistant) and Frederic Cousineau (receivers).

Ìý

Other returning coaches on staff include Clint Uttley (defensive coordinator), Dennis Waide (defensive backs), Sean Dougherty (quarterbacks), Bob Bindon (offensive line) and Stan Gendron (running backs).

Ìý

The Redmen open training camp on Aug. 14 and will begin regular season play against the Montreal Carabins on Sept. 3.

Ìý

Profiles of each coach follow:

Ìý

SONNY WOLFE, Head Coach & Offensive Coordinator

Sonny Wolfe was appointed as the 19th head football coach in ±«ÓãÖ±²¥ history in April, 2007 and also took on the added duties of offensive coordinator in 2008. He owns an 83-79 record in CIS regular-season competition.

Fluently bilingual in English and French, the 64-year-old native of Montreal, was raised in the Cote des Neiges district and is no stranger to ±«ÓãÖ±²¥. He played briefly with the Redmen and graduated from the university with a physical education degree in 1976, then served as an assistant coach at ±«ÓãÖ±²¥ for eight seasons under head coach Charlie Baillie from 1976 to 1983.

Wolfe left ±«ÓãÖ±²¥ in 1984 for Acadia University in Wolfville, N.S., where he served 19 years at head coach, through the 2002 season.

He posted an 83-63 regular-season record (.568) and an 86-75 mark overall (.534), guiding the Axemen to 16 post-season appearances and reaching the Atlantic University Sport conference final 12 times. He led Acadia to three championship seasons (1986, 1995 and 1998), won AUS coach of the year honours twice (1986 and 1995) and developed 18 players who went on to pro football careers in the CFL.

In 2003, Wolfe served as offensive coordinator under Dennis McPhee at St. Francis Xavier University, where the X-Men also reached the AUS conference finals.

Wolfe, who holds his level IV coaching certification, returned to Montreal in 2004 and joined the Université de Montréal Carabins for three seasons as a defensive coordinator under head coach Jacques Dussault. He also served as an interim head coach for nine months when Dussault took a leave of absence.

Wolfe began his coaching career in 1968 as a defensive line coach with the NDG Maple Leafs, followed by three seasons as a defensive coach at Sir George Williams University (1969-71) and four years as a defensive coordinator at Vanier College (1972-75).

He and his wife Denise live in the Montreal area.

Ìý

CLINT UTTLEY, Associate Coach & Defensive Coordinator

A 35-year-old native of Orillia, Ont., Clint Uttley was appointed as a full-time associate coach and defensive coordinator in January, 2008. He served as a linebackers coach in 2008. Previously, Uttley was the special teams coordinator and defensive backs coach at the University of British Columbia for two seasons after six campaigns under Sonny Wolfe at Acadia University, where he served his final two years as assistant head coach and defensive coordinator with the Axemen.

Uttley, who was a visiting coach at the Toronto Argonauts training camp in 2003, 2005 and 2008, is regarded as an up-tempo instructor who interacts well with players and has a solid background in Canadian university football.

A linebacker at St. Mary's high school in Hamilton, he went on to play junior for the Burlington Braves, then played at Champlain Regional College in Lennoxville, Que., where he was part of their 1995 Bol d'Or junior college championship. Uttley went on to play five seasons at middle linebacker for Acadia (1996 to 2000) where he was a four-year starter and team captain for two seasons. He graduated with a bachelor of arts in 2000, followed by an education degree in 2004.

Currently working on a master's degree in education, Uttley began his coaching career as an assistant with the Huronia Stallions of the Ontario Varsity Football League in Orillia, each summer from 1998 to 2002. He served as a graduate assistant and receivers coach at Acadia in 2001. The next year, he returned to the defensive side of the ball, coaching the Acadia linebackers and coordinating the recruiting for the next two years. In 2004, he was elevated to assistant head coach and defensive coordinator. The next year, his defensive unit finished tied for second-best in the nation, in yards allowed per game (271). In 2006, his defensive unit allowed the third fewest points in the nation (16.9 per game).

During his tenure at Acadia, Uttley coached eight CIS All-Canadians, three President's Trophy nominees (most outstanding defensive player in the CIS), a J.P. Metras Trophy nominee (most outstanding lineman), a Peter Gorman nominee (most outstanding rookie) and two Russ Jackson Award nominees (the player who best combine academics, athletics and citizenship).

Ìý

JEROME ERDMAN, Defensive Line & Special Teams

Jerome Erdman joins the Redmen in 2009 with the ultimate Canadian football resume, having played and coached at both the professional and collegiate level. Last year, he served as a receivers coach with the CFL's Toronto Argonauts. In 2007, Erdman served as linebackers coach at the University of British Columbia. He was the special teams coach for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats from 2004-2006, after joining the club as defensive line coach in 2003. In 2005, Erdman's group became the CFL's only club to not give up a punt, kickoff or missed field goal return touchdown. His first CFL coaching assignment came in 2002 when he was the defensive backs coach for the B.C. Lions, after a two-year coaching stint as defensive coordinator with the UBC Thunderbirds.

Prior to joining the Thunderbirds, Erdman spent 10 seasons coaching in Scotland with NFL Europe's Scottish Claymores. His coaching success was carried over from a productive playing career in the CFL; one that saw him spend time with Winnipeg, Edmonton and Ottawa. In 1984, he won a Grey Cup in his sophomore season with the Blue Bombers. As his playing days came to an end, his coaching career began when he took a position at his alma mater Simon Fraser University as a defensive secondary coach in 1989. He played three seasons with SFU, winning one national championship in 1982. A former member of the Renfrew Trojans junior football program, Jerome has two children, T.J. and Shania.

Ìý

BOB BINDON, Offensive Line

Bob Bindon, a 62-year-old native of Verdun, Que., joined the ±«ÓãÖ±²¥ staff as an offensive line coach in 2006. In 2007, he also shared the offensive coordinator duties with Sean Dougherty. Bindon spent the previous eight seasons with the Concordia Stingers coaching staff, including four years on the offensive line and four years at defensive line. He has also been a long-serving physical fitness teacher at John Abbott College, where he coached football for 19 years (1978-2006), including 13 seasons as head coach.

Bindon earned a graduate diploma in special education & adapted physical education from ±«ÓãÖ±²¥ in 1979. Prior to that, he studied physical education at Southern Illinois University for three years before transferring to Sir George Williams University and graduating in 1974.

Originally from Verdun, Que., he attended Crawford Park elementary school and Verdun high school. Bindon played football for Leo's Boys in Pointe St. Charles, then moved up to the NDG Maple Leafs, the Southern Illinois Salukis and the SGWU Georgians. Bindon is married to wife Olga and they have one son (Tyler, 27) and a daughter (Morgan, 22). They lived in Beaconsfield, Que., and now reside in Hudson, Que., where they have maintained a home for over 32 years.

Ìý

SEAN DOUGHERTY, Quarterbacks

A native of Dorval, Que., Sean Dougherty joined the ±«ÓãÖ±²¥ staff as quarterbacks coach in 2002. Under his tutelage, Matt Connell became the most prolific quarterback in ±«ÓãÖ±²¥ history and broke most of the QUFL and CIS career passing records.

Dougherty also served as an assistant offensive coordinator in 2005 and 2006 and was the team's co-offensive coordinator in 2007. Prior to joining the Redmen, Dougherty had coaching stints with Collège Vieux-Montreal, the University of Manitoba, Vanier College and the Lakeshore Cougars in addition to the provincial teams in Manitoba and Nova Scotia.

He played quarterback at Champlain Regional College, where he was part of their 1986 Bol d'Or junior college championship team. The following year, he transferred toÌý Vanier College, where he won another Bol d'Or title. He went on to universit football at St. Mary's, where he played for coach Larry Uteck. Dougherty finished his CIS career at Acadia under then coach Sonny Wolfe.

In addition to working with the Redmen, Dougherty has worked closely with the Ace's football program in Pointe St. Charles and helped develop the Ace's spring program, where ±«ÓãÖ±²¥ football players serve as mentors to underprivileged players in an attempt to influence them to see the value of staying in school.Ìý Presently, he works at Cogan Wire & Metal Products where he's been since 1999.

Ìý

MATT CONNELL, Quarterbacks Assistant

Matt Connell, a 25-year-old native of St. Bruno, Que., joins the Redmen coaching staff in 2009 after graduating with a B.Ed as the most prolific quarterback in ±«ÓãÖ±²¥ history. Connell served as a water boy for the Redmen in his youth, then went on to star at ±«ÓãÖ±²¥, earning all-conference honours twice and team MVP honours three times. ÌýHe established CIS and QUFL single-season standards for most passing attempts (336) and completions (209), in addition to CIS and QUFL career records for most attempts (1,364), completions (816) and yards (10,455). Connell also finished with a QUFL career record 63 TD tosses (in 38 games), the seventh-highest total in CIS history.

Earlier this year, he played pro and also served as offensive coordinator for the Cannes Iron Mask, a Division 1 pro team in France. From 2005 to 2009, he was head coach of the Montreal Aces youth football program and also served as a quarterback coach at Selwyn House School in Westmount, Que. He was the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach for five Montreal high school all-star games (Alouette Bowl, 2004-08) and held a si milar position at the Wilson Challenge 17-and under competition, guiding ÌýTeam EMS to a pair of gold medal victories in three years (2006-08).

Ìý

STAN GENDRON, Running Backs

Stan Gendron, a 54-year-old resident of Montreal's NDG region, was originally from Watrous, Sask., assumes the role of running backs coach in 2009. He joined the Redmen staff as a receivers coach in February, 2005 and played a role in developing one of the strongest core of receivers in the country with Charles-Antoine Sinotte and Erik Galas, two of his prize pupils..

After graduating from John Abbott College, Gendron played for ±«ÓãÖ±²¥ from 1974 to 1976, where he earned a bachelor's degree in physical education (1977) and a master's in motor behaviour & sport psychology (1989). Gendron holds a Level IV national coaching certification and has a strong playing and administrative background in numerous sports, including football, skiing, squash and tennis.He has also held previous administrative positions at Squash Canada in Ottawa, the YMCA in Dollard des Ormeaux, Gray Rocks Inn in Mont Tremblant and Northview elementary school in Pointe Claire.

Ìý

DENNIS WAIDE, Defensive Backs

Dennis Waide, a 51-year-old native of Dollard des Ormeaux, Que., enters his fifth year on staff and will serve as defensive backs coach for the second straight year. He was the team's defensive coordinator from 2005 through 2007 and also served as an associate coach in 2006, taking on added administrative duties, including the coordination of recruiting.

Waide is a former Redmen player who previously had 23 years of coaching experience with the John Abbott Islanders, including his last seven as head coach. He guided the Islanders to three Bol d'Or appearances, winning the Quebec collegiate championship in 2002. During his two-decade stint as a coach with the Islanders, he also handled defensive backs and special teams, in addition to serving as defensive coordinator.

He is also employed as an assocaite dean and registrar at Collège Lionel-Groulx after serving as an administrative assistant in the registrar's office at College Gerald Godin.

Waide played for the Redmen from 1977 to 1981, graduating with a degree in physical education. He won the team's most improved player award in 1978 and earned all-conference honours in his final season. Prior to playing for ±«ÓãÖ±²¥, he captained John Abbott to a pair of Bol d'Or championships in 1976 and 1977. Among the players he coached at John Abbott are CIS All-Canadians Al Matheson (Bishop's), Gaston Thibodeau (Concordia), Luc Pelland (Concordia) and Paul Maines (Tulsa, Concordia). Many other players have successfully continued their academic and athletic careers at numerous universities in Canada and the United States, including defensive end Louis-Philippe Ladouceur (University of California, Berkeley) and defensive end Jason Ward (University of Connecticut).

Waide and his wife Francine live in suburban Dollard des Ormeaux and have two daughters Emilie (22) and Andrea (21).

Ìý

PAT DONOVAN, Linebackers

Pat Donovan, a 28-year-old native of Laconia, N.H., starred at linebacker for Concordia University from 2001 to 2006. A two-time all-Canadian with the Stingers, he became only the second player in CIS history to win the President's trophy back-to-back, as the most outstanding defensive player in Canadian university football.

He served as a captain with the Stingers, and was voted as the Quebec male nominee for the 2007 BLG Award, presented to the CIS athlete of the year. Donovan Ìýgraduated in 2007 with an arts degree, majoring in leisure studies. An entrepreneur, he founded his own computer consultation business and has been involved in several charity fundraisers, including one for the Montreal Children's Hospital.

Ìý

FRANCOIS CHAGNON, Offensive Assistant

François Chagnon, a native of Waterville, Que., and a resident of Terrebonne, Que., joins the Redmen staff in 2009 after two years in the Collegiate AA league with the Lanaudiere Triades, where he coached quarterbacks. In 2006, he served as defensive coordinator and was responsible for the linebackers at Champlain College in St. Lambert, Que. From 2004 to 2008, he coached high school football at Collège St-Jean-Vianney in Montreal. Prior to that, he coached in youth football with the Association Régionale de Football Laurentides-Lanaudière.

Chagnon holds a Level 3 technical certification from the NCCP and has participated in numerous coaching clinics including conferences at Penn State, Notre Dame, UConn, Boston and Baltimore. Before his coaching career, he played in high school for Salesian Seminary in Sherbrooke and then for the Cougars of Champlain College in Lennoxville in the Quebec CEGEP AAA league.

Chagnon also is employed as a senior IT project manager and director at the consulting firm Larochelle Consulting Group, based in downtown Montreal. He has been married for 20 years to Marie Aubé and has three children, Frederick (17), Andreanne (14) and Philippe (12).

Ìý

FREDERIC COUSINEAU, Receivers

Frederic Cousineau joins the Redmen in 2009 after three years in the collegial AAA league as head coach and receivers coach for College Montmorency and Vanier College, respectively. Prior to that, he was responsible for the receivers with the Université de Montreal Carabins from 2002 to 2005 under head coach Jacques Dussault.

Cousineau started his coaching career at the high school level, where he also worked as a physical education teacher (Curé-Antoine Labelle and Sainte-Thérèse) from 1996 to 2001. Cousineau, who holds a Level III certification, is still employed as a physical education teacher at high school level in the Montreal area.

Frederic has been married to his wife Genevieve for 10 years and they have two children, Jérémy (7) and Soraya (4).

Ìý

SOURCE:

Earl Zukerman

Communications Officer

±«ÓãÖ±²¥ Athletics & Recreation

514-398-7012

Ìý

Back to top