*Updated as of Wednesday, Feb. 5*
The Clan have found their man.
On Tuesday, Feb. 4, SFU filled its football head coaching vacancy with former BC Lions offensive coordinator and SFU graduate Jacques Chapdelaine.
The deal had been rumoured for some time, but was officially announced this week. Chapdelaine replaces Dave Johnson, who was fired Nov. 19 following a disappointing 3-7 in the NCAA Div. II’s Great Northwest Athletic Conference. Johnson amassed a 20-44-1 record in seven seasons at the helm of SFU football, split between the CIS and NCAA.
Chapdelaine and the Lions parted ways on Nov. 27, shortly after Johnson was let go, which lead to immediate speculation that the Clan alum might return to his alma mater.
The knock on Chapdelaine is his lack of experience with American rules. Though he hasn’t been around the four-down game since graduating SFU (then part of the NAIA) in 1982, he has a wealth of football experience nonetheless.
The former SFU slotback has over 20 years of CFL coaching experience to his name, including spending the last four seasons as the Lions’ offensive play-caller. He brings a championship pedigree to Burnaby Mountain, too: Chapdelaine has won three Grey Cups (2001 with Calgary; 2006 and 2011 with BC) as a coach.
He also spent six years playing in the CFL, from 1983-1989.
