RAMS ANNOUNCE 2016 COACHING STAFF
REGINA, Sask. – University of Regina Rams first-year head coach Steve Bryce announced his coaching staff for the 2016 season on Tuesday afternoon, with well over half of the coaches returning from last year’s staff.
The offensive side of the ball will see all five coaches return, including coordinator Mark McConkey. Also back are offensive line coaches Steve Hanson and Sheldon Neald, running backs coach Dwayne Masson, and receivers coach Nathan Hoffart. The only changes to the offensive staff are in the form of a pair of additions, as former Rams player Campbell Antonini comes aboard as the team’s quarterbacks coach and Mark Becker will coach the U of R’s tight ends in addition to coordinating the scout team.
A defensive backs coach last season, Sheldon Gray will now serve as the team’s defensive coordinator. He’ll lead a defensive staff that includes returning defensive line coach Greg Nesbitt, and new additions Ventson Donelson (defensive backs), Derek Lamer (linebackers), and BK Woldu (defensive backs).
Alex Smith also returns as the special teams coordinator, a position he’s held since the 2013 season.
“I’m very excited about the coaching staff we’ve put together for this season,” Bryce said. “We have a tremendous mix of seasoned veterans and youthful exuberance with a wide variety of experiences to draw from – from professional all the way through to all levels of minor football – but one thing they all have in common is a commitment to constant improvement.”
The Rams are in final preparations for the Laurentian Bank Securities Spring Camp, which will be held this Friday, Saturday, and Sunday at the U of R Field.
University of Regina Rams – 2016 Coaching Staff
Head Coach – Steve Bryce (1st season)
Offensive Coordinator – Mark McConkey (2nd season)
Defensive Coordinator – Sheldon Gray (1st season as DC / 2nd season overall)
Special Teams Coordinator – Alex Smith (4th season)
Quarterbacks Coach – Campbell Antonini (1st season)
Tight Ends Coach / Scout Team Coordinator – Mark Becker (1st season)
Defensive Backs Coach – Ventson Donelson (1st season)
Offensive Line Coach – Steve Hanson (3rd season)
Receivers Coach – Nathan Hoffart (2nd season)
Linebackers Coach – Derek Lamer (1st season)
Running Backs Coach – Dwayne Masson (4th season)
Offensive Line Coach – Sheldon Neald (7th season)
Defensive Line Coach – Greg Nesbitt (12th season)
Defensive Backs Coach – BK Woldu (1st season)
Tight end coach?
The HC knows that this is canadian rules football right?
Ottawa had a mutiny on their hands from the players when their offensive system didn’t relate to offences seen in the CFL (I believe the offence used was a double wing offence).
Anyways, if there was a problem recruiting high school kids before, using a tight end oriented offence may make it that much tougher.
A lot of 1st year very thinly experienced people here. It will hake another 10 years to gain the required knowledge base and background. What you have here is the Rams Alumni "young old boys club". It will be at least 10 years before this team comes close to respectability, if at all. You would never see a top notch US College program run this way. It's sad but what can you expect from the people running it? Most people feel this program will be non-existent in a few years. Can't see how that won't happen.
With a coaching staff like that, the kids should be lining up to come to this school. Lucky they got rid of the guy with Canadian football experience, but he didn't play for the Rams.