CANADIAN MEN’S SENIOR TEAM ANNOUNCES COACHING STAFF

REGINA AND OTTAWA – The Canadian National Senior Men’s Team is thrilled to announce the finalization of their coaching staff that will lead Team Canada into the IFAF Qualifiers and World Championship.

Under the direction of head coach Jesse Maddox, the team has brought in coaches from coast to coast to coast with a high level of coaching and playing pedigree. The full coaching staff is detailed below:

OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR AND QUARTERBACKS – STEVENSON BONE

Stevenson Bone joins Team Canada as he enters his third season as the University of British Columbia Offensive Coordinator. Previously, Bone coached at the University of Guelph Gryphons and gained front-office experience with the Toronto Argonauts. During the 2023 season, UBC’s offense ranked in the top 5 of USports. Bone also has seven years of experience coaching quarterbacks at the Manning Passing Academy in Louisiana, making him the only Canadian coach in this role.

DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR AND DEFENSIVE BACKS – SAMMY OKPRO

Sammy Okpro brings a wealth of experience to Team Canada, having served as the Interim Head Coach and Defensive Coordinator at York University. His coaching career also includes a stint as the Defensive Coordinator for the Edmonton Huskies. A former professional athlete, Okpro was a standout at the University of Concordia and played for the Edmonton Elks. He has represented Canada three times, earning a silver medal and MVP honors at the 2011 IFAF World Championships in Aust

SPECIAL TEAMS COORDINATOR AND SAFETIES – CRAIG BUTLER

Craig Butler joins the coaching staff after serving as the Special Teams Coordinator for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. A former standout at the University of Western Ontario, Butler was a West Division All-Star in his rookie season with the Saskatchewan Roughriders and won the 101st Grey Cup. Butler transitioned to coaching with the Tiger-Cats, becoming the Special Teams Coordinator in February 2022.

OFFENSIVE LINE – BRYAN CHIU

Bryan Chiu, former Offensive Line coach for the B.C. Lions and current Head Coach of Vancouver College, joins Team Canada with a rich playing and coaching background. Chiu played for the Montreal Alouettes from 1997-2009, earning multiple CFL All-Star honors and the CFL’s Most Outstanding Lineman award in 2002. He played collegiate football at Washington State.

OFFENSIVE LINE – CHRIS MARSHALL

Chris Marshall has spent the last five years coaching the Offensive Line at Western University, leading one of the top offenses in USPORTS. The Mustangs have won the Yates Cup three times and the 2021 Vanier Cup under his tenure. Marshall has also coached at the CJFL level and spent a season with the Toronto Argonauts.

RUNNING BACKS – MATT WALTER

Matt Walter, a former standout with the Calgary Dinos, Calgary Stampeders, and Saskatchewan Roughriders, joins as the Running Backs coach. Walter, the 34th pick of the 2011 CFL Draft, won a silver medal with the Senior Men’s National Team at the 2011 IFAF World Championship and the 2014 Grey Cup with the Calgary Stampeders.

RECEIVERS – CORY WATSON

Cory Watson, currently the wide receivers coach at the University of Concordia, brings extensive experience from his playing career in the CFL with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, Edmonton Elks, BC Lions, and Saskatchewan Roughriders. Watson won the 2015 Grey Cup with the Edmonton Elks.

TIGHT ENDS – TRAVIS MILLER

Travis Miller, Head Coach of the Okanagan Sun, will serve as the Tight Ends coach. Miller led the Sun to a top-ranked offense in the BCFC as Offensive Coordinator and played collegiately at Acadia University.

LINEBACKERS AND LONG SNAPPERS – CONRAD ELLIOTT

Conrad Elliott joins as the Linebacker and Long Snapper coach after playing at the University of Western Ontario and professionally with the Toronto Argonauts. Elliott was drafted 44th Overall in the 2010 CFL Draft.

DEFENSIVE LINE – SHAQ ARMSTRONG

Shaq Armstrong, Defensive Line Coach at the University of Manitoba, brings his playing experience from the Winnipeg Rifles, University of Concordia, and semi-professional teams in Canada and overseas. Armstrong was named to the IFAF Team World in 2011.

Additional Assistant and Quality Control Coaches include:

• McCartney Sealey: Former University of Western Ontario standout.
• Chad Stewart: Eastern Canada Recruiting Coordinator for the Okanagan Sun and former QB Coach and Offensive Coordinator for the London Beefeaters.
• Regan Oey: Offensive Coordinator at Vancouver College, previously serving as the Receivers Coach.

This diverse and highly qualified coaching staff is set to lead Team Canada to success in the upcoming IFAF Qualifiers and World Championship.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Daniel Woloshin
[email protected]