Football Canada announces U18 coaching staff in preparation for 2016 International Bowl

Photo credit: Ron Jenkins / USA Football

Football Canada has unveiled its U18 national team coaching staff, which will guide a group of standouts from the 2015 under-18 national championship – the Football Canada Cup.

The coaching staff were selected from each of the eight 2015 Football Canada Cup participating provincial teams, consisting of Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and two from host Quebec – Quebec-Blue and Quebec-White.

The staff will guide a roster of 40 Canada Cup standouts, invited to compete against Team USA, at the 2016 International Bowl series.

This year’s Football Canada Cup winning head coach, Brad Collinson, of Quebec-Blue, will serve as Canada’s U18 head coach. Collinson previously served as head coach of Canada’s U18 International Bowl squad in the game’s inaugural installment in 2014, the first event in its current form.

The 2016 installment of the International Bowl will also mark a second straight appearance on the U18 coaching staff for Chris Hopkins. Joining Hopkins on his second tour is Dean Jones who reunites with Collinson after participating at the 2014 International Bowl as members of the U18 national team’s coaching staff.

International Bowl games to help select Junior National Team

Canada’s U18 and U19 games will serve as a final step in the selection process for Canada’s Junior National Team as they prepare for the 2016 IFAF U-19 World Championship. Learn more about the process here.

Canada undefeated in U18 International Bowl contest

Canada U18’s head into their third International Bowl undefeated, after taking the 2015 edition at AT&T Stadium, 25-9, while in 2014, they defeated their U.S counterparts, 54-9, at Maverick Stadium. The event, held to coincide with NCAA’s National Signing Day, was established in 2010 as an annual Team USA versus the World game until it transitioned into its current format in 2014.

U18 Coaching staff