NILL JUMPS SCHOOLS
VANCOUVER (CP) – Blake Nill says he could be taking on the biggest challenge of his career.
The University of British Columbia Thunderbirds introduced Nill as the new head coach of their football team on Tuesday, less than 24 hours after he resigned from the same position with the Calgary Dinos.
“It was something that I thought about long and hard, but I was convinced in my discussions with the athletic department, with the backers, that it was time for UBC,” Nill said at his introductory new conference. “They wanted to step up and they wanted to put their football team as the flagship and get them back on the map.
“I’ve always felt B.C. is rich with talent, the university is rich with tradition, and now it’s just a matter of combining everything (and) changing the culture … making sure the kids understand what it takes to be successful, and I think I’m capable of doing that.”
Known for his ability to recruit, Nill might have his work cut out for him in the short term. UBC hasn’t won a conference championship since winning the Vanier Cup in 1997 and is coming off a 2-6 campaign that cost head coach Scott Olson his job.
The Thunderbirds have not had a winning season since 2004 and are a combined 24-56 over the last 10 years, but Nill said there is reason for optimism
“I can honestly say this may be the most talent-laden team that I’ve taken over,” he said. “I think (it’s) more or less installing a new culture. Installing a culture of work ethic, of speed, of strength, of accountability.
“Once the kids realize they need to be accountable to themselves and their teammates, I think you’ll see a change fairly quickly.”
Nill spent the last nine seasons with the Dinos, leading them to six straight Hardy Cup titles as Canada West champions and three Vanier Cup appearances.
Prior to that, the native of Hanna, Alta., coached the Saint Mary’s Huskies for eight years, making four trips to the Vanier Cup, including victories in 2001 and 2002.
This hiring should serve as a notice to the UofR Athletic and Dick White. This is the type of move that teams who want to be successful make. As long as you keep hiring mediocre guys that the type of results you can expect. There is nobody on the current Rams staff that is anywhere near good enough to move forward with. The Rams and U of R need to approach a winning coach at the collegiate level or hire someone with proven professional experience. They have just gone through a decade or so of mediocre coaching and it's obvious… Read more »
Agree with previous post. The new ownership group of the Pats have taken the approach of hiring professionals and the results have been outstanding. UofR needs to demonstrate a true commitment to athletic excellence. The appearance is they don't support athletics.
The reality is the U of R isn’t big enough to be able to provide the financial compensation that schools like UBC can provide. The U of R sports scene is like the second or third level Div 1 schools in the states. Coaches go are only interested in the U of R as a stepping stone to somewhere else (if they can manage to be successful)
On the other possibility why Nill went to UBC is that at one time UBC was thinking of playing US college football. Maybe that is the challenge that he is referring to?
I have often wondered why the U of R ever got into the Collegiate football program. Junior success doesn't in any way translate to collegiate success. The Rams have proven that. A once great junior program was dismantled and in it's place came a sad sack university team, that doesn't ever seem to get appreciably better. If the U of R is not going to commit the necessary funds and resources to the program why not dismantle it and withdraw from the league. The CIS Rams have not brought any glory to the University nor city.
The CIS Rams have not brought any glory to the University nor city.
Has any university sport team in Canada done so?
When I see I am cheering for a bunch of local kids getting the opportunity to play U ball I will support them all the way. Love to win but not at the expense of bringing in the imports while our kids sit. And I'm afraid that is the trend.
If your kid isn't good enough to play then he shouldn't. Period. U of C played a ton of local Calgary kids over Nills time there.