Football Canada Names Warren Craney Director of Coaching & Athlete Development
Ottawa, ON – Football Canada is excited to announce the appointment of Warren Craney as the new Director of Coaching & Athlete Development. Craney joins the national office following a successful run at this past summer’s IFAF World Championships where Canada’s Junior National Team won gold. Craney enters this role as a seasoned leader in Canadian football with decades of experience at the university, national, provincial, and international levels – he brings a wealth of knowledge, a proven track record, and an unwavering commitment to advancing the sport of football across Canada.
Coach Craney has made a lot of sacrifices and contributions to making our game better. His passion, commitment, and pride in Football Canada’s programs quickly became evident to me and the opportunity to strengthen our team in a critical area, with someone of his background, integrity and character, helped make this an easy decision. This is a great addition to our staff, and I look forward to seeing Warren shine in this new role,” said McDonald.
Craney has been a cornerstone of Football Canada’s international program since 2009. As head coach, he has guided the Junior National Team to gold medals at the 2024 World Championships in Edmonton and the 2016 World Championships in Harbin, China, along with a silver medal at the 2014 World Championships in Kuwait. These successes highlight his ability to lead teams to victory at the highest level of competition.
Prior to becoming head coach, Craney served as defensive coordinator for the Junior National Team, earning a gold medal in 2012 and a silver medal in 2009. His international coaching career also includes seven consecutive International Bowl appearances (2010–2016), further showcasing his expertise on the world stage. In provincial competition, Craney led Team Québec to gold medals at the 2006 and 2007 Canada Cups, with the 2006 squad setting a tournament record for defensive excellence by allowing only three points throughout the entire event.
“Joining Football Canada as the Director of Coaching and Player Development under Kevin McDonald’s leadership is both an honour and an incredible opportunity,” said Craney. “I’m eager to contribute to the growth of our national programs, fostering excellence in coaching and creating pathways for players to reach their full potential. Football Canada has a rich tradition, and I’m committed to building on that legacy while driving innovation and development at every level of the game.”
A Montreal native (find out which one he prefers), Craney began his coaching journey as the defensive coordinator at Vanier College before embarking on an impressive two-decade career in USPORTs football. At Concordia University, Craney’s defensive units were consistently among the best in Québec and across Canada, producing four Presidents’ Trophy winners (awarded to Canada’s top university defensive player) and numerous All-Canadian athletes. Later, as head coach of York University Lions, he was the architect of revitalizing the program, recruiting and developing and impressive 12 CFL draft picks, including one player who went on to play in the NFL. Coach Craney’s emphasis on strategic excellence and player development has led to a track record of elevated team performances and countless athletes finding pathways to professional careers. Craney’s ability to nurture talent and build competitive teams has solidified his reputation as one of the most accomplished coaches in Canadian football.
This appointment follows another key leadership announcement as Football Canada has also recently promoted Katie Miyazaki to Director of High Performance. Katie, a multi-sport athlete and coach, has been instrumental in driving athlete and coach development initiatives since joining Football Canada in 2021. Her promotion alongside Craney’s appointment will serve to reinforce Football Canada’s commitment to strengthening its leadership team and delivering exceptional programs for athletes and coaches nationwide.
Football Canada is confident that Craney’s leadership and expertise will enhance our various national programs, ensuring continued growth and success for athletes and coaches alike on the international stage.
For more information, please contact:
Braydon Stachel
Marketing and Communications Manager
Football Canada
BStachel@FootballCanada.com
