Football Canada in partnership with Football Quebec, has announced the coaching staff that will lead No. 1-ranked Canada in the inaugural International Federation of American Football (IFAF) Junior World Championship in Canton, Ohio, this summer.
Laval University head coach Glen Constantin will lead the Canadian junior national team when an eight-team, four-continent field of junior national teams (aged 19 and under) representing Canada, France, Germany, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, Sweden and the United States compete at Fawcett Stadium at the Pro Football Hall of Fame from June 27 to July 5.
Constantin was hired as defensive coordinator with the Laval Rouge & Or in 1996 and took over as head coach in December 2000.He has since led his team to Vanier Cup victories in 2003, 2004, 2006 and 2008 and three perfect 8-0 seasons. Since 2004, Laval only has lost one regular season game.
Constantin was awarded the Frank Tindall Trophy in 2005 as CIS Coach of the Year and in eight years leading the Rouge & Or has accumulated a record of 51-13 in the regular season and 19-6 in playoff action. Laval has won 51 of its last 56 regular season games under his leadership.
Prior to becoming the head coach for the Canadian junior national team, Constantin was the defensive coordinator for five years under Danny Maciocia.
Constantin has assembled a staff from Canadian amateur football that is rich in international experience. Greg Marshall, head coach at the University of Western Ontario, will take charge of the Team Canada offensive line; Justin Ethier of Laval University will be the quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator; and Stephan Ptaszek, head coach at McMaster University, will be the wide receivers coach. Marco Iadeluca, head coach for the Canadian Junior Football League St. Leonard Cougars, will handle the running backs.
On the defensive side of the ball, Blake Nill, head coach at the University of Calgary, will handle the linebackers; Warren Craney, the defensive coordinator at Concordia University, will take on the same role for the junior national team; Jeff Cummins, head coach at Acadia University, will oversee the defensive line and Kyle Walters, head coach for the University of Guelph, will coach the defensive backs. Mickey Donovan, special teams and recruiting coordinator with the Western Mustangs, will work with the special teams.
Team Canada will host three regional camps on April 25-26 at McMaster University, May 23-24 at University of Calgary and May 30-31 at Concordia University. From these camps, selected players will receive an invitation from Football Canada to attend the final selection camp in mid-June at the University of Western Ontario.
All-day general admission IFAF Junior World Championship tickets are available at $10, while reserved tickets to all 12 tournament games are priced at $50. Tickets are available online or by calling 1-800-574-5874.
All-inclusive travel packages to Canton with tournament game tickets are also available online or by calling 1-888-310-4255 (Continental U.S. and Canada).