York University Lions head football coach Warren Craney announced on Wednesday that Mike Comeau has been named the new offensive coordinator of the team.
The program will also be adding a third full-time assistant coaching position to the staff. The job, which will be an offensive position, will be posted shortly.
Comeau, who has been the offensive line coach since 
2011, takes over for Michael Faulds, who was named head coach of the Laurier Golden Hawks on Tuesday.
From left, Mike Comeau and Warren Craney
“I have known Mike for a very long time and I have full faith in his abilities to run our offence. He is an unbelievable teacher and an extremely hard worker; his preparation is second to none and his passion will be invaluable to our offence. I want to thank Michael for everything he brought to our program and I wish him all the best in his new role at Laurier. Mike has learned a lot from him over the last three seasons and I know he will do a good job stepping into this new role,” said Craney.
“I am also thrilled about hiring a new full-time coach for our program. The student-athletes get better with coaching and the more quality coaches we can bring in, the better we will be as a team. The additional position also reaffirms our director Jennifer [Myers’] commitment to turning this team into a contender, and I can’t wait to get back on the field with our new coaching staff.”
Comeau has made tremendous strides as a coach since joining the Lions two seasons ago and has overseen the development of one of the youngest offensive lines in the country. In addition, he has served as the running game coordinator – managing all of the running game meetings and calling all of the run plays during games – and has designed and implemented all of the team’s pass protections.
Since his arrival, the offensive line has helped the running backs triple their rushing numbers, going from 384 total yards (48 per game) in 2010 to 1,258 yards (157.25 per game) in 2012. At the same time, the Lions have become one of the better pass protection teams in the conference, rising from the bottom of the Ontario University Athletics (OUA) in 2010 to allowing the third-fewest sacks in 2012.
He is also currently the team’s study hall coordinator and has designed and implemented the program’s academic success model.
“I am very excited for this upcoming season with the Lions and I am confident the offence will not lose a step,” said Myles Gibbon, the team’s starting quarterback. “Coach Comeau and I both have a great knowledge of the offence already and I believe we will continue to improve. I cannot wait to start working with him and the rest of the coaching staff for the upcoming year.”
Before coming to York, Comeau served as the co-offensive line coach and running backs coach at Concordia University, where he was also the co-director of the Stingers summer football school. This past summer he was the offensive coordinator for the Etobicoke Eagles in the Ontario Varsity Football League (OVFL), and while at the helm of the offence the Eagles led the OVFL in passing yards, were second overall in quarterback rating, ranked fourth in rushing average and broke two individual passing records.
As a player, Comeau spent five years as an offensive lineman with the Stingers, starting 43 games over five years at guard and tackle and also appearing as a starter in three Dunsmore Cup games. He was also a starter at the 2004 Canada Cup, where he was named an all-Canadian defensive tackle.
Comeau will make his debut on the sideline as the offensive coordinator on Sunday, Aug. 25, when the Lions kick off the 2013 season with a home game against the Queen’s Gaels at York Stadium beginning at 1pm.