VANCOUVER - The UBC Thunderbirds football team has made a notable addition to their coaching staff ahead of the 2022 season with head coach Blake Nill naming former U SPORTS quarterback Stevenson Bone as the team's new offensive coordinator.
 
Bone, a graduate of Western University, heads West to UBC after spending the previous five seasons coaching in U SPORTS with the Guelph Gryphons (2019 – 2021) and the Western Mustangs (2017-18). For the past two seasons, Bone has served as the running backs coach for the Gryphons. The native of Darien, Connecticut, started in Guelph as the quarterbacks coach in 2019. Prior to that he spent two seasons at Western University as an offensive graduate assistant.


 
"It is a privilege and an honour to be part of this storied program which in addition to winning four Vanier Cups, has had such a positive impact on so many young lives," said Bone. "Coach Nill is one of the most successful U SPORTS coaches – having won three Vanier Cups and numerous league championships – and the prospect of being part of his staff, is one that any young coach would aspire to. Everyone seeks to work with great organizations and with UBC's standard of excellence, on and off the field, this was the place to be."
 
"Stevenson comes from a true football family where the game carries significance, and his ability to advocate that was important to me," said Thunderbirds head coach Blake Nill. "His offensive chemistry is shaped by two of the best; Coach Greg Marshall (Western) and Coach Ryan Sheahan (Guelph) so immediate he will be able to add to an already explosive situation. My belief is that he will fit immediately with our young offensive staff here at UBC."


 
Before joining the coaching ranks, Bone played five seasons with the Western Mustangs as a quarterback. In 22 career games he completed 100/161 passes (1370 yards) along with nine touchdown passes in the air. He ran for an additional 400 yards on the ground and added seven touchdowns. In 14 playoff games he added six touchdown passes and two touchdown runs. Bone helped the Western Mustangs to a 2017 Vanier Cup and two Yates Cups (2013 and 2017).
 
Off the field he was named as an Academic All-Canadian during his playing career. He graduated Western University with both a Bachelor's Degree in Geography and a Master's Degree in Kinesiology.
 
Bone's bloodlines run deep in U SPORTS. His father Jamie Bone was also a former Western Mustangs quarterback who captured the Hec Crighton Award in 1978. Jamie and Stevenson Bone run their own Quarterback Clinic called QB Nation. Each year he's entrusted as a quarterback instructor at the renowned Manning Passing Academy in Thibodeaux, LA. All amounting to invaluable experience and tools that Bone brings out west in preparation to work closely with a dynamic young offensive unit that includes dual threat T-Birds quarterback Garrett Rooker entering his sophomore season following a standout 2021 campaign that saw him earn Canada West Rookie of the year.


 
"Coaching people as opposed to coaching football Legendary Queen's Football Coach Doug Hargreaves made that statement 50 years ago and it is as true then as it is today," added Bone in regards to relating to today's student athletes. "Treat your players first as a person, student, and then football player - and the wins will follow. Being not far removed from playing, I understand the pressure the athletes face not only on the field, but in today's social media age. Navigating the university experience can be daunting as public figures on campus and in the community. I hope to bring them my learned experiences representing their university and UBC Football to the highest standard." 


 
"When it comes down to it, the role of a varsity coach is to get athletes to perform at their peak," explained Nill. "Now-a-days that requires more finesse and less fire and brimstone. Stevenson understands today's student-athlete very well and I feel my young offensive athletes are going to enjoy his approach."
 
The UBC Thunderbirds football team is proud to welcome Stevenson Bone to their staff.
 
The UBC Thunderbirds football program kicks off their 2022 season on Saturday, September 3^rd at home against the University of Alberta at 7 PM. For more information on scheduling and the UBC Thunderbirds football team, click here.