Maciocia takes job at University of Montreal
Former Edmonton Eskimos coach and general manager Danny Maciocia is making the move to Canadian university football.
Fired by the Eskimos on July 31, Maciocia was named head coach of the University of Montreal Carabins on Tuesday.
Maciocia has stepped into a coaching controversy as several players threatened to quit football after the university announced last week it would not renew the contract of fourth-year coach Marc Santerre.
The players held a news conference to support Santerre, whose indifference to the academic aspect of university football reportedly did not sit well with the University of Montreal's administration. Some players, mainly from underprivileged backgrounds, credit Santerre with keeping them in school and out of trouble through football.
Maciocia joins the Carabins after helping Andre Grasset College to a Quebec junior college (CEGEP) championship.
"We hope to raise the level of our football program mainly in the areas of athletic performance, academic results and discipline," athletic director Manon Simard said Tuesday in a statement. "To achieve that, we felt we needed to name a new coach to bring new leadership to our program."
Maciocia is the third head coach since Carabins football debuted in 2002 after Jacques Dussault and Santerre. Maciocia worked one season under Dussault as offensive co-ordinator in 2002 before joining the Eskimos.
"Right now my family is my priority," said 43-year-old Maciocia, who has three daughters. "I accomplished what I wanted in professional football and now I want to share what I know with young players.
"I hope to end my career in Montreal and hopefully at the University of Montreal. It's the perfect spot for me. My experience at Andre Grasset convinced me that I want to work with young players."
The Montreal native takes over a team that went 6-3 this season, but was upset by the Sherbrooke Vert et Or in the playoffs.
"There's a lot of work to do but we have a plan and we know exactly in which direction we're headed," he said.