Concordia Stingers Peter Regimbald receives 2018 Gino Fracas Award
LAVAL, QC – On Thursday night, Concordia Stingers coach Peter Regimbald was named as the recipient of the 2018 Gino Fracas Award at the USports All-Canadian Gala in Quebec, Quebec.
Introduced by Football Canada to pay recognition to the assistant coach that provides endless hours to improve the experience for the players and supports other coaches. Assistant coaches are instrumental and indispensable to the success of USPORTS football programs.
Capping off his 50th and final year as a coach, the Lachine, Quebec native Regimbald wore many hats with the Stingers. Upon his retirement at the end of this fall season, he held the positions of Assistant Head Coach, Academic Advisor and mentor.
In 1964, Regimbald reached the pro ranks as a player, playing for the Canadian Football League’s (CFL) Montreal Alouettes.
He joined the legendary George Dixon in 1968 as an assistant with the Loyola Warriors football program. During his rookie coaching campaign with the Warriors, the team won the Ottawa St-Lawrence Athletic Association (OSLAA) championship. The Warriors would claim another OSLAA banner in 1972.
That was a glimpse of great things to come in one of the most storied coaching careers in the nation.
Loyola College merged with Sir George Williams University to form Concordia University in 1974-1975. Once the merger happened, Regimbald was part of the Stingers coaching staff when the team took to the field for the first time in 1976. This is where he’s had the greatest impact as he was instrumental in helping the team win three Ontario-Quebec Intercollegiate Football Conference Championships (1982, 1993 and 1998).
As a special team’s coordinator, Regimbald played significant part in leading the Stingers’ to success as well as a record setting campaign during the 1998 season. That year, the team were crowned conference champions and claimed the Dunsmore Cup on route to winning their first ever Atlantic Bowl. In the bowl game held in Halifax, the Stingers’ special teams unit overcame cold and blustery conditions to make a difference in the outcome as they had two blocked punts, converted a fumble recovery for a touchdown and added four field goals.
The Stingers gained national notoriety during Regimbald’s time as special teams’ coordinator as the program was known as KickerU for developing great kickers who have enjoyed success at the CFL level.
However, Regimbald’s impact goes beyond the gridiron. As an advocate for education, he was a champion for student-athletes succeeding in the classroom. Making a difference in many lives, he was proactive in helping football athletes realize their education goals. Many Stingers’ players credit Regimbald for supporting their goals and enabling them to graduate with a university degree.
Additionally, the retired coach has served as a mentor, sharing his knowledge as well as giving advice to some of the greatest coaches in Canadian football including Queen’s Gaels head coach Pat Sheahan, Montreal Alouettes’ running backs coach Andre Bolduc as well as Special Teams coordinator Mickey Donovan and current Stingers head coach Brad Collinson.
Regimbald embodies the true essence of the Gino Fracas Award as expressed by Collinson.
“Coach Reg has given 50 years of his life to university football,” he said. “Through his guidance on and off the football field, he has changed the lives of many young men.”
“He has been the driving force behind the academic success of countless student-athletes. His dedication to Concordia University is unmatched and he is the true definition of loyalty.”
Gino Fracas moved right into a coaching role after his days with the Edmonton Eskimos with the University of Alberta head coach position. He led them to three league championships in the next four years. In 1963 his team won the Golden Bowl, the unofficial university National Championship and he also appeared in the very first College Bowl in 1965. Gino finished his coaching career at the University of Windsor where he has spent many years. As a player Gino was on the Intercollegiate All-Star Team three times and was a 2-time league scoring leader. Gino was a first round draft choice of the Ottawa Rough Riders he ended up with the Edmonton Eskimos for his entire eight year CFL career. His coaching destiny started to show as a team captain and defensive signal caller. This tough nosed linebacker appeared in three Grey Cup games, winning two championships in 1955 and 1956.
