CANADIAN
FINALISTS NAMED FOR 2014 NFL YOUTH COACH OF THE YEAR AWARD
Winner of national grassroots program
to receive $5,000 in new equipment for their football program and $5,000 in
BlackRock Canada bursaries for local players in
need
Toronto,
ON – Wednesday
November 19, 2014 − Ten finalists have been named for the 2014 NFL Youth Coach
of the Year Award, the NFL announced today.
The award,
now in its 16th year, is presented by BlackRock Canada, an
industry-leading investment management and services provider. Run in conjunction
with Football Canada, the award is designed to recognize community or high
school level coaches across Canada who dedicate themselves to the development of
young players both on and off the field. The award is not based on wins and
losses.
The following
ten youth coaches (coaching organized teams of football players aged 19 or
under) are this year’s finalists:
|
Coach |
Team/Program/Community |
Paul Arsenault | Nova Scotia Minor Football Association, Valley Minor
Football, Kentville, NS |
David Battistel | St. Patrick High School, JV, Thunder Bay,
ON |
Alain Gauvin | L'Association Régionale de Football Laurentides
Lanaudière et la Ligue de Football des Laurentides, Terrebonne,
QC |
Paul Howard | National Capital Amateur Football Association, South
Ottawa Mustangs, Ottawa, ON |
Shawn Irwin | L.Y. Cairns School & West Edmonton Raiders Football
Association, Edmonton, AB |
Chase Moore | Western Canada High School, Calgary,
AB |
Vince Orieux | Holy Rosary High School & Lloydminster Minor
Football, Lloydminster, AB |
Jay Prepchuk | Handsworth Secondary School, Vancouver,
BC |
Joe Sardo | Hamilton Football Association, Hamilton,
ON |
Jason Schenn | Rural Manitoba Football League (9-man) Moosomin
Generals, Moosomin, SK
|
Current and
former players, volunteers, fans, parents, administrators, school principals and
fellow coaches submitted short essays recognizing the positive impact a coach in
their community has on young players. Nominators were asked to consider how
their coach teaches respect, leadership and appreciation for community and the
game of football when drafting nominations.
Among this year's finalists are:
- An Edmonton
teacher who has introduced football in school for students with a
diagnosis of Mild Cognitive Disability
- A former
professional football player pioneering a Safe Contact™ initiative in
Hamilton
- A coach
ensuring youth in a disadvantaged Ottawa community have a chance to
play
Over the past
15 years the program has contributed more than $180,000 in equipment and
facility upgrades to deserving coaches and programs.
"BlackRock
Canada is proud to recognize the efforts of these ten very deserving finalists,"
said Noel Archard, Managing Director, Head of BlackRock Canada, who will help
cement the winning coach's legacy by creating $5,000 in bursaries that will
assist young players in the coach's community who are in financial need. “These
coaches are community builders and are nothing short of
inspirational.”
The NFL will
donate $5,000 of new football equipment to the winning coach’s
program. The two
runners-up schools will each receive $2,000 in equipment.
The winning
coach will be selected by a panel of journalists from across Canada. Winner and
runners-up will be announced via press release and posted online (NFL.com) on
Tuesday December 2,
2014.
Past
winners:
- 2013: Quentin
Tynes, Halifax Minor Football Association, Halifax NS
- 2012: Dave
Hocking, London Minor Football, London, ON
- 2011: Rick
Gilson, Grand Prairie Composite High School, Grand Prairie, AB
- 2010: John
Svenson, Melville Comprehensive School, Melville, SK.
- 2009: Bruce
Waddell, Parkwest Outlaws, Shoal Lake, MB.
- 2008: Quinn
Skelton, Medicine Hat High School, Medicine Hat, AB.
- 2007: Jeff
Green, Chatham-Kent Secondary, Chatham, ON.
- 2006: Dan Del
Mastro, Michael Power Catholic Secondary, Toronto, ON.
- 2005: Jeff
Yanchus, John F. Ross CVI, Guelph, ON.
- 2004: Kevin
Campbell, Hammarskjold High School, Thunder Bay, ON.
- 2003: Paul
Kerber, Western Canada High School, Calgary, AB
- 2002: Gordon
Judges, St. Mary Catholic High School, Pickering, ON
- 2001: Paul
Normandeau, Kelvin High School, Winnipeg, MB
- 2000: Mitch
Chuvalo, Western Technical Commercial High School, Toronto, ON
- 1999: Mike
Tanner, Queen Elizabeth High School, Halifax, NS
For more
information on The
NFL Youth Coach of the Year Award, including submission content and contact information
for coaches, please contact:
Brian
Findlay
Stellick
Communications/NFL Canada Communications
(416)
802-4062
bfindlay@gotoguys.net
