With the Canada West football season kicking off in just under two months' time UBC Thunderbirds head coach Blake Nill is looking forward to adding a youthful influence to his staff ahead of the 2019 campaign. The T-Birds sideline will feature some fresh faces with impressive resumes ready to compliment the veteran voices and coach Nill, who enters his fifth season in charge of the 'Birds and 22^nd year as a U SPORTS head coach.

Two key changes include Taylor Nill's promotion to offensive coordinator after serving as receiver's and running backs coach over the previous two seasons. The T-Birds are also thrilled to welcome former first overall selection in the 2010 CFL draft, Shomari Williams to the fold as the defensive line coach and recruiting coordinator.



Nill and Williams are just two of the youthful collective looking to help fill the voids left by veteran coaches Stef Ptaszek and Paul Orazietti. Ptaszek spent one season on the west coast as offensive coordinator before returning to McMaster to fill the head coaching role for the Marauders this off season. While after spending 13 seasons on the T-Birds sidelines, most recently as associate head coach, Orazietti took an opportunity to return back east as the new manager of athletics at Sault College in Ontario.

"We certainly lost some experienced coaches but I'm very happy with the pieces that we've brought in place here," said coach Nill. "I feel the younger coaches including Shomari and Taylor will help the overall staff connect and better relate to today's generation of varsity athletes. Shomari will bring a valued ability to coordinate our recruiting effort which was a main role of mine and it will free me up for other areas. Shomari is another guy the athletes can identify with, he brings a credibility and will impact our efforts on the defensive line."



Coach Nill added that he's confident Taylor Nill is ready for the elevated responsibility.

"I strongly believe Taylor is one of the best young coaches in the country, he's been with us for three years and was thrown into the fire in 2017 taking over the T-Birds passing attack. He was very fortunate to work alongside coach Ptaszek last year, Taylor knows the game and I'm very impressed with his preparation and teaching ability."



In addition to Taylor Nill's two years at UBC he's also served at the under 18 level as offensive coordinator for team BC and running backs coach for team Canada. In May, Nill spent two valuable weeks as a guest coach at BC Lions training camp in Kamloops, BC.

"I'm very excited, it's something I've put my mind towards for a long time," said Taylor Nill. "I've been fortunate to be around a high level of coaching and playing my entire life so I believe those experiences have led me to this point. It's exciting, I'm still learning how to be a better leader, game planner and strategist but I believe in my ability."

Williams, heads west after serving as recruiting coordinator for his alma mater Queen's Golden Gaels where he won a Vanier Cup in 2009 before enjoying a five year CFL career that saw stops in Saskatchewan, Hamilton and Calgary.

"I'm looking forward to working at a great university with coach Nill," said Williams. "I'm focused on identifying talent and bringing in the right kind of players. I'll also help the defensive line get better every day, we're going to be a hard-working group that earn a lot of sacks and turnovers going forward."

Elsewhere, the well-established Pat Tracey and his wealth of experience returns for a fifth year at UBC and fourth as the defensive coordinator. Tracey enters his 32^nd season patrolling the sidelines across the country at both the U SPORTS and CFL level.



Another youthful presence joining the blue and gold sidelines will come in the form of CY Iwanegbe, the former Calgary Dino's All-Canadian will coach the defensive backs. With that the returning Chris Shibley sees expanded duties with a promotion to special team's coordinator.

The T-Birds also welcome newcomer Pascal Lochard as a special teams assistant, Lochard is a former standout U SPORTS running back and Vanier Cup MVP with Laval University. He recently retired from the CFL after a four-year career spent in BC, Winnipeg, Ottawa and Edmonton.
More experience shows itself in the form of Glen Donaldson returning to lead the running backs while Jordan Filippelli is back in charge of the offensive line. Former T-Bird Adrian Hoople returns to the fold to assist with the linebackers.

Pete Buckley returns for a second season and brings the international flavor to the staff as he oversees the tight ends and H-backs. Buckley a native of Great Britain previously spent eight years as the head coach for the Warwick Wolves of the British University American Football League.

Josh Collins brings his experience and calming influence back for a fifth season as the kicking coach and special teams assistance. 

Longtime quarterback guru Jay Prepchuck is back as an offensive assistant and following his third season on the field with the 'Birds, former qb Cole Meyer makes the quick transition to join the staff with a focus on the young quarterback crop.



After leading the T-Birds to the 2015 Vanier Cup championship title in his first year in charge and dropping their last three playoff games by a combined seven points, head coach Blake Nill looks forward to guiding the blue and gold back to prominence in 2019.

The T-Birds will open training camp on Friday, August 16 in advance of hosting the University of Regina Rams in their home opener on Saturday, August 31 with a 7:00 p.m. kickoff at Thunderbirds Stadium.

2019 UBC Thunderbirds football schedule here:
https://gothunderbirds.ca/schedule.aspx?path=football