York University Athletics & Recreation announced on Friday (Nov. 27) that Kyle Quinlan has been named the co-offensive coordinator for the Lions football program.
Kyle Quinlan (image: oua.ca)
Quinlan returns to Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) three years after finishing a stellar playing career at McMaster University. He was with the Marauders from 2008 to 2012, and in his final two seasons experienced a run that is among the best in CIS football history.
As the starting quarterback in 2011, he led the Marauders to their first Vanier Cup championship, and in that playoff run won three straight game-MVP selections. The following year he had one of the best statistical seasons in CIS football history to win the Hec Crighton Trophy as CIS player of the year, while also leading the Marauders back to the Vanier Cup game. He capped his career by winning the 2013 BLG Award as the CIS male athlete of the year.
Quinlan will work alongside Kamau Peterson, the associate offensive coordinator for the past two seasons.
“I am thrilled that Kyle has chosen to join our coaching staff here at York,” said Lions football head coach Warren Craney. “He is a proven winner in the CIS and brings with him significant knowledge of the game. We have many young weapons on offence and I know he will have a tremendous impact on all of them. His addition is another step in the right direction for our program as we continue to build a winning team.”
Quinlan earned a tryout with the Montreal Alouettes in the Canadian Football League (CFL) but chose to retire as a player and begin coaching. He returned to McMaster as a graduate assistant and spent two summers as the varsity head coach and offensive coordinator of the Hamilton Ironmen Football Club in the Ontario Varsity Football League (OVFL).
This past season he was the head coach at Holland College in Charlottetown, where he led the Hurricanes to the Moosehead Cup title as Atlantic Football League (AFL) champions.
“This is an excellent opportunity to join York football during an exciting period in their program’s history,” said Quinlan. “York has been recruiting very well and has built the facilities and staff to showcase and develop that tremendous talent. I am looking forward to returning to CIS football and pursuing a Vanier Cup once again.”
He takes over as offensive coordinator from Mike Comeau, who held the position for the past three seasons. Quinlan will start his new role with the Lions immediately and will make his debut on the sidelines with the program next August when the 2016 Ontario University Athletics (OUA) campaign kicks off.