Coach Thorpe unveils 2012 U19 Junior Team coaching staff

Football Canada is proud to announce its 2012 U19 Junior National Team coaching staff which will guide Team Canada at the 2012 International Federation of American Football (IFAF) Junior World Championship to be held June 28 – July 8 in Austin, Texas.

Joining Head Coach, Noel Thorpe on the Canadian National Team coaching staff are Warren Craney (Defensive Coordinator), Patrick Boies (Offensive Coordinator), Gilles Lezi (Special Teams), Michael Faulds (Quarterbacks), Kamau Peterson (Receivers), Alain Mainguy (Offensive Line), Terry Eisler (Running Backs), Brian Guebert (Defensive Line) and Devin Murphy (Defensive Backs).

Returning as Defensive Coordinator from the 2009 Junior National Team staff is current Head Coach at York University, Warren Craney. Craney is an experienced international coach, having also coached in all three International Bowls as IFAF World Team Defensive Coordinator. Prior to joining York 2010 as Head Coach, Craney spent seven seasons as Defensive Coordinator at Concordia University and the three prior as Defensive Line Coach. Prior to Concordia, Craney also spent three years as Vanier College’s DC.

Boies joins McGill for the upcoming season after spending the past eight at Collège François-Xavier Garneau, including the past six as Head Coach. In 2011, Boies helped guide the Élans to the Bol d’Or Division 1 championship in which they posted a 59 – 31 upset over Collège Vieux-Montréal.

Lezi is currently the Assistant Head Coach and Running Backs Coach at Cégep du Vieux Montréal and was previously the Special Teams Coordinator in 2008. As a player out of Vieux, Gilles earned a scholarship to Northwestern University in the Big 10 Conference, where he played Fullback and Tight End. Lezi also played professionally in the CFL with Winnipeg, Calgary, Hamilton and Edmonton, where he was drafted in the second round of the 2004 draft.

Michael Faulds is the current Offensive Coordinator at York University and one of the greatest pivots ever to play in the CIS, whose record of 10,811 career passing yards still stands. An experienced international player, Faulds participated in three Global Junior Championships (2000, 2000 and 2003), a pre-cursor to the IFAF World Juniors as well as the 2011 IFAF Senior World Championship. Most recently Faulds had the opportunity to groom global prospects, serving as the QB Coach for the World Team who defeated Team USA at the 2012 International Bowl.

Kamau Peterson brings 10 years of CFL playing experience as a receiver to Team Canada. A three time CFL All-Star, Grey Cup Champion and the CFL’s 2008 Most Outstanding Canadian, Peterson was selected by the Calgary Stampeders in the 1^st round (6^th overall) of the 2001 CFL draft out of the University of New Hampshire.

Alain Mainguy joins the Université de Montréal coaching staff for the upcoming season and will have continuity with Boies from their days together at F-X Garneau. A former Rouge et Or Offensive Lineman during the program’s initial two years, Mainguy has been coaching in Québec since 2000. He has won a total of six Bol d’Or at different levels including in 2008 and 2011 with the Élans coaching the Offensive Line.

A two-time Canada West Conference All-Star as a University of Saskatchewan Running Back, Team Canada Running Backs Coach, Terry Eisler previously served the same position with both the Edmonton Eskimos (2007 – 2010) as well as the University of Alberta. He also served as Golden Bears Offensive Coordinator (2001- 2006). Eisler helped develop Eskimos RBs Calvin McCarty and Mathieu Bertrand.

An accomplished Defensive Linemen, Brian Guebert, is currently the High-Performance Director at Football Saskatchewan. Gueberthas experienced all levels of football including the CFL (Winnipeg Blue Bombers), CIS (University of Saskatchewan) and the CJFL (Saskatchewan Hilltops). He also has international experience playing with Team Canada at the 2011 IFAF Senior World Championship. Guebert couples this experience with a master’s degree in education and a level 3 NCCP coaching certification in football. Guebert has also assisted Saskatchewan’s Provincial Team, coaching Defensive Line and Special Teams.

Devin Murphy has been a Defensive Backs Coach in the CIS since 2006 and has been with Saint Mary’s University since 2008. This upcoming season his role has expanded to include Defensive Coordinator. In 2010, Murphy served the same role with Nova Scotia’s U18 Provincial Team in 2010 and with the province’s U16 team in 2011. A former DB at the University of Ottawa (2001 – 2005), Devin began his coaching career with his Alma mater coaching DBs.

Head Coach Noel Thorpe believes his coaching staff is, “A first-rate coaching staff, who have demonstrated the ability to coach, teach and mentor players. These coaches are committed to and have a proven track record in the development of football players and successful programs across our country.”

“I am looking forward to the opportunity to work with these coaches, as our first order of business is to identify player talent across the country with our regional selection camps.”

Camps will be conducted in Saskatchewan, Ontario, Quebec and Nova Scotia, with additional details to follow later this week. Members of Football BC will be ineligible to participate due to the PSO’s membership status currently being not in good standing.

Coaching Staff
Name	Position
Noel Thorpe	Head Coach
Warren Craney	Defensive Coordinator
Patrick Boies	Offensive Coordinator
Gilles Lezi	Special Teams Coordinator
Michael Faulds	Quarterbacks
Brian Guebert	Defensive Line
Kamau Peterson	Receivers
Devin Murphy	Defensive Backs
Alain Mainguy	Offensive Line
Terry Eisler	Running Backs