VANCOUVER - One of the first tasks
Shawn Olson took on as the new head coach of the UBC Thunderbirds football program was building a coaching staff that fit his philosophy about returning excellence to the program he once led on the field to a national title.
The first-time head coach has put his stamp on the T-Birds, bringing in full-time assistants Jerome Erdman (defensive coordinator) and
Paul Orazietti (recruiting coordinator and running backs) to replace former assistants Dino Geremia and Kevin MacNeill who worked under Olson's predecessor, Ted Goveia.
Neither Erdman nor Orazietti are newcomers to the UBC campus with both men having spent time on the field at Thunderbird Stadium.
Erdman filled the role of defensive coordinator once before for the T-Birds, leading the UBC defence and special teams from 2000-01 before moving on to a number of positions at the CFL and CIS level that included stops as coach of the T-Bird secondary in 2002 and 2007.
Orazietti, a teammate of Olson's on UBC's 1997 Vanier Cup winning team, not only suited up for the T-Birds but he also coached running backs for his alma mater in 1998 and then from 2002-05 during spring camp.
"Both of these coaches exemplify the character and work ethic I plan on building UBC Football on," said Olson of his coaching staff.
With Olson in charge of the offence in just his first season as a head coach, Erdman's experience both on the field and the sidelines should be a huge benefit to the T-Bird program.
A standout defensive back at Simon Fraser University from 1979-1981, Erdman carried over that success to the pro level, playing eight seasons in the CFL for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers (with whom he won the 1984 Grey Cup), Ottawa Roughriders, and Edmonton Eskimos before a five-year stint with the Glasgow Lions in Europe capped off a very successful playing career.
Erdman began his coaching career with the Lions while he was still playing, leading the defence for four seasons before taking over as head coach in 1996 after his on-field retirement. He then spent three years with the Scottish Claymores (NFL Europe) before returning to Canada and his first stint with the T-Birds.
From 2002-06 Erdman was on staff with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats coaching both the linebackers and special team units. After his second tour of duty with the 'Birds in 2007, he took over as receivers coach and special teams assistant with the Toronto Argonauts for the 2008 CFL season. Last year, he coached special teams and defensive line at McGill University.
"Jerome has been a very well respected member of the Canadian coaching community for the last 2 decades. He has been successful at every level coaching both defensive and special team systems," observed Olson.
Erdman's experience with the T-Birds in the past has been a positive one and was a big reason why Olson brought him back to Vancouver.
"Jerome was a coach who made a very positive impression on some of our older players when he coached defensive backs at UBC three years ago and his coaching philosophy, experience and work ethic made him an obvious choice to lead our defence."
Orazietti returns to UBC after a successful stint with the Victoria Rebels of the CJFL where he served as head coach, offensive coordinator and director of football operations since 2005.
A graduate of both Queen's University (Arts, '93) and UBC (Education, '97), Orazietti spent six years as the athletic director and P.E. department coordinator at Canmore Collegiate while also assuming the role of head coach and offensive coordinator of the Canmore Wolverines (high school) prior to leading the Rebels. His extensive coaching and scouting resume have also seen him work with Football Alberta, the University of Calgary, and NFL World League.
The former T-Bird's on-field career began as a standout with Sir James Dunn High School in Sault, ON. Orazietti then spent two seasons with the Queen's Golden Gaels from 1989-90, one year with the Edinburgh Eagles (BFA) in 1994, and was at UBC from 1995-97.
"Paul is another example of reconnecting with the UBC alumni and I plan to tap into his wealth of organizational and head coaching experience to implement our long term plan to return UBC football to the top of the Canadian football world," said Olson.
Orazietti's connection with and knowledge of the Canadian junior football ranks also made him a smart hire for the T-Bird program according to Olson.
"Paul has also been one of the top recruiters in junior football over the past six years. Bringing those skills to UBC will allow us to become one of the most competitive recruiting environments in the Canada West."
In addition to bringing in a pair of new full-time assistants, Olson also announced that long-time part-time assistant coach and former T-Bird All-Canadian, Bob Beveridge, will be working full-time during the fall season. A former teammate of the new head coach, Beveridge will serve as UBC's running game coordinator in addition to his usual duties as offensive line coach.
Olson has also put together a solid blend of newcomers and returnees on UBC's part-time staff.
Joining the T-Bird sideline this season are UBC alums Mark Nohra (RB) and Scott Rintoul (WR) in addition to former NFLer and CFL all-star Daved Benefield (DE) and CFL receiver Jamie Stoddard (asst. WR). The list of returnees to the UBC staff include Peter Ohler (QB), Julian Radlein (RB), Rick Pennel (OL), Chris Beaton (DL), Chris Hoople (LB), and Shawn McIsaac (P/K).
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