A pair of young local football coaches will enjoy opportunities to refine their craft in the years to come thanks to announcements that have been made in the past few weeks.
An assistant coach with the Sudbury Spartans girls tackle football program as well as with the Laurentian Voyageurs flag football program, basically since inception, Veronique St Jean will take on the reins of the U16 squad in 2027.
On the boys side of the equation, OSFL (Ontario Summer Football League) champion (2022) Jordan Desilets returns as the man in charge, showing the way with the Sudbury U16 Spartans after well-respected football mentor Dan Yoisten made a family-related move to the North Bay region recently.
A graduate of Bishop A Carter Catholic School and member of the Gators football team during their short-lived tenure, Desilets has worked extensively as an assistant coach with both the Lively Hawks as well as the Sudbury Jr Spartans since leaving the field of play.
His interest in the head coach position is a function not only of the the bright outlook he envisions for the U16 squad next summer, but is also reflective of a more general positivity that surrounds his favourite sport in Sudbury, in general.
"For me, it's about continuing to reach that standard of what has been built over the past four or five seasons, with all of the momentum that Sudbury football has right now," said Desilets. "We're seeing growth with the women's program now and the connecting of the pipeline with the men's (OP5FL) team."
Blessed with head coaching experience at this level based on his work with the team from 2022 to 2024, Desilets has garnered an even greater perspective than the one he enjoyed previously.
"I now have a greater appreciation for every little thing that goes into running a football program: game day logistics, the volunteer help of the parents, team management," he said. "Just an appreciation for everything that goes into it, beyond the X's and O's."
Desilets noted that Kyle Preseau will serve as his Offensive Coordinator and Tate James as Defensive Coordinator, allowing him to take on a bigger picture approach on game day.
"It's about controlling the sidelines on game day, with all of the emotions in play," said Desilets. "Making sure everyone is good, supporting everyone in doing their job."
With Shane Hutchinson returning to the helm of the U18 Spartans and Junior Labrosse giving no indication that he wishes to leave his outpost with the senior men's team any time soon, Desilets sees plenty of benefit in working hand in hand with so many of those who have helped to raise the overall level of play in both the high-school ranks and summer football programs in Sudbury.
"We're all so familiar with each other from a local high-school standpoint, across different teams," he said. "We know what each person brings to the table so it's just a matter of aligning with everyone, talking with everyone."
Owen Willis enters his second year as head coach of the senior team at Lively District Secondary School this fall, allowing Desilets to focus his efforts largely on the junior side, working hand in hand with Reg Bonin and providing a sounding board for Willis as he continues his development in the head coaching ranks.
