Football Canada names Noel Thorpe Junior National Team Head Coach

Football Canada is proud to announce the appointment of veteran CFL coach and current CIS Defensive Coordinator Noel Thorpe as Head Coach of the Junior National Team which will compete at the 2012 International Federation of American Football (IFAF) Junior World Championship. Coach Thorpe is currently the Defensive Coordinator at l’Université de Montréal. From 2008- 2010, Thorpe held the positions of Defensive Backs Coach, Special Teams Coordinator with the Edmonton Eskimos and also served as Assistant Head Coach during his last two seasons with the Eskimos. Prior to Edmonton, from 2002- 2007, Thorpe served as Defensive Backs Coach and Special Teams Coordinator with the Montréal Alouettes.

Thorpe, a native of Vancouver, B.C. has won championships at both the CIS and CFL level. He has coached in four Grey Cups, winning in 2002 with the Alouettes. Thorpe also helped the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds to a Vanier Cup in 1997 where he served as Defensive Coordinator and Defensive Backs coach from 1996 to 2000. Thorpe also coached the 2001 season in the NAIA with Simon Fraser University. Prior to entering into coaching, Thorpe played college football in the NCAA at St. Cloud State University.

“It is an honour and privilege to represent and lead Team Canada on an international stage. There are a lot of good coaches in this country and I am fortunate to have the opportunity to lead Team Canada,” said Coach Thorpe.

“Players like Jerome Messam, Samuel Giguère, Vaughn Martin, and Christopher Milo have come through Football Canada’s developmental program and Team Canada, represented our country on an international stage and have since gone on to have successful collegiate and professional careers.

“I’m looking forward to the opportunity and challenge of assembling a first-rate coaching and support staff that has geographic representation across the country as well as recruiting and selecting some of Canada’s top football talent that gives Team Canada the best opportunity to compete for a gold medal against the world’s best teams.”

Team Canada is looking to improve upon a silver medal finish at the 2009 IFAF Junior World Championship in Canton, Ohio. Canadian 2009 Junior National Team alumni include Bryron Perez- Archambault (Université de Montréal), Jérémi Doyon-Roch (Université de Sherbrooke), Steven Lumbala (University of Calgary), Brandon Bridge, Jake Thomas (Acadia University) and Kirby Fabien (University of Calgary). Players born in 1993, 1994 or 1995 with a Canadian citizenship and who are Football Canada members through their respective Provincial Football Association are eligible to represent Canada at the 2012 IFAF Junior World Championship. Additional information including the dates and locations of Team Canada try-outs will be announced shortly.