Steve Sumarah to succeed Warren Craney as Junior National Team Head Coach in 2017
Football Canada has selected Steve Sumarah as its next Junior National Team head coach, effective at the conclusion of the 2016 world championship.
The current Carleton Ravens head coach’s two-term appointment will begin with the 2017 International Bowl and include the 2018 and 2020 IFAF U19 World Championships.
The program’s fourth head coach, Sumarah will take over from veteran international coach, Warren Craney. Craney, who will lead Canada in 2016, began as head coach in 2014 after serving as defensive coordinator under previous head coaches Noel Thorpe (2012) and Glen Constantin (2009).
Sumarah who served as an assistant coach on the 2011 Senior Men’s National Team will acclimate to the national team program by taking in the 2016 International Bowl at AT&T Stadium in Dallas, Texas followed by the 2016 IFAF U19 World Championship in July.
“It’s an honour to be named the head coach of Canada’s Junior National Team. This program of excellence showcases our best under-20 [aged] football players as we take on the world,” said Sumarah.
“The past achievements of this program are steeped in tradition, with a track record of great success. With such coaches as Glen Constantin, Noel Thorpe, and Warren Craney before me, it drives me to want the same success in this program as they’ve achieved.”
“The growth of football in this country continues to rise – being able to work with Football Canada and the provincial sport organizations in the promotion of our great game is very important to me. I’m excited to learn from this year’s coaching staff, and continue to help move the program forward in 2018 and 2020.”
In preparation for the 2018 world championship, a selection process for coordinators and position coaches will begin in early 2016.
Coaching Biography
Currently in his third year as head coach of the new look Carleton Ravens, Sumarah helped lead the revival of the university’s football program in 2013 after a 15 year hiatus.
Prior to Carleton, he spent 14 years with the Saint Mary’s Huskies including his last 6 as head coach. During that time at St. Mary’s, he led the Huskies to a regular season record of 35-12. His post-season record is just an impressive; leading St. Mary’s to four consecutive AUS titles (1997-2000), and a 2007 Vanier Cup appearance in addition to being named three-time AUS coach of the year (2007-’09).
Before he became head coach of the Huskies program, Sumarah served as offensive coordinator at SMU from 1998-2006. As a coordinator he helped the Huskies to four Vanier Cup appearances from 1999-2003 including back-to-back national championships in 2001 and 2002. Prior to joining St. Mary’s, Sumarah served as a position coach from 1994-1998 with the St. Francis Xavier X-Men.
Sumarah also has both national and international tournament coaching experience under his belt. In 2011, Sumarah coached Team Canada’s quarterbacks and receivers helping the squad capture silver at the IFAF Senior Men’s World Championship in Austria. He’s also served as the head coach of Nova Scotia’s entry at the 1998 Football Canada Cup in the under-19 division.
