Blake Nill is synonymous with success when it comes to Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) football. Already one of the most decorated coaches in university football after brilliant stints at Saint Mary’s and Calgary, Nill made history with the UBC Thunderbirds in 2015, his first with the program.
In his debut season with the Blue and Gold, he led a remarkable turnaround, guiding the squad to the Vanier Cup national championship. The year began with a triumphant non-conference win at Laval in Quebec City. The team then recorded a 6-2 regular season, which was followed up by playoff wins against Manitoba, Calgary, St. Francis Xavier, and finally Montreal in the CIS title game in the very same Stade TELUS-Université Laval where its season began.
UBC won the Canada West Hardy Cup championship and the Vanier Cup for the first since 1997. It was school’s 15th conference title and fourth national championship overall. Nill became the first coach in CIS history to guide two different schools to Vanier Cup victories.
Five players from last year’s squad are now playing in the Canadian Football League.
Nill came to Vancouver after nine years as head coach of the Calgary Dinos. Prior to that, he spent eight seasons as head coach at Saint Mary’s in Halifax. In 18 campaigns as a CIS head coach, Nill has a career record (regular season and playoffs) of 140-49.
In Calgary, Nill led the Dinos to three Vanier Cup appearances (2009, 2010 & 2013) and a record six straight Hardy Cup Championships (2008-13) as the Canada West’s top team. In each of his last seven seasons in Calgary, the Dinos won at least five regular season games and one playoff game.
Nill won the Frank Tindall Trophy as CIS Coach of the Year in 1999 and was a finalist in 2000, 2001, 2003, 2009, 2012, and 2013. He has been named Canada West coach of the year on three occasions: 2009, 2012, and 2013.
A native of Hanna, Alta., Nill’s first head coaching job in the CIS was with Saint Mary’s. In eight years with the Huskies, he led them to a record six-straight Atlantic University Sport Championships (1999-2004), four trips to the Vanier Cup (1999, 2001, 2002, 2003), and two Vanier Cup Championships (2001 & 2002).
Nill’s CIS coaching career began at St. Francis Xavier as a defensive coordinator in 1992. He spent six years with the X-Men, helping them to a Vanier Cup appearance in 1996.
During his playing days, Nill suited up for the Calgary Dinos from 1980 through 1982. He was selected by the Montreal Concorde in the third round, 19th overall in the 1983 CFL Draft. He played in the CFL from 1983-88 with Montreal, Hamilton, and Winnipeg.
Nill graduated from Concordia (Que.) in 1989 with a Bachelor of Arts and has a Bachelor of Science and a Masters of Education from St. Francis Xavier.
