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Coaches - 2007

John Darnell, Head Coach and General Manager

2007 marks John's 37th year coaching football.

He graduated with a B.A. (Hons), from the University of Western Ontario in 1970. He received his M. Ed from Wayne State University in 1976. John was a secondary school teacher with the Thames Valley District School Board from 1971 until his retirement in 2000. He served as the Executive Director of the Men's Athletic Alumni at the University of Western Ontario from 2001 to 2005.

During his teaching career John coached at three different high schools in London (Oakridge, H.B.Beal, and Sir Wilfrid Laurier) and reached the Senior Football City Championship at all three. His teams won 6 Senior Football City Championships, and 12 Divisional Championships. He was also the head coach of the London Senior Bowl team and the head coach of the London Beefeaters of the Canadian Junior Football League. John was Team Canada's 1998 Defensive Coordinator in Scotland & England. His Forest City Thunderbirds were the Provincial Champions in 2000 and 2002 and Provincial Finalists in 2001 and 2005.

The London Sports Council presented John the 2001 Ontario 3M Community Coach Award in recognition of his outstanding contribution to community coaching.

John is entering his 4th year as the Assistant Head Football Coach at St. Francis Xavier University in Antigonish, Nova Scotia.

Coach Darnell is fully certified NCCP Level IV.

Chad Asselstine, Defensive Coordinator

Chad Asselstine has been involved in football in the London community since his London Minor Football Association playing days. Chad moved on to play Defensive End and Linebacker at Sir Wilfrid Laurier Secondary School where he captained three of the five teams he played for and won two city championships. Chad graduated High School and continued his playing career with the Forest City Thunderbirds, winning one Provincial Championship, and receiving two all star nominations. Chad finished his playing career after four successful season with the University of Western Ontario Mustangs where he played two years at Linebacker and two at Defensive where he started for his last two years. Chad began coaching Linebackers during his summers while playing for UWO. Over the past two years Chad has been coaching Defensive Line for a High School team in the Hamilton area.

Don Elliott, LB Coach

Don is a newcomer to the 2007 Thunderbird coaching staff.  He played Linebacker for the Thunderbirds for three seasons (2003, 2004 and 2005).  In the 2003 season he was named Defensive MVP for the Forest City Thunderbirds and was named a COMFL all-star, he was also an all-star in the 2005 season.  Don played high school football in London at South Secondary and was a member of their 2001 Senior Championship team.  Don is in his 3rd year at the University of Western Ontario studying Psychology and is a member of the Mustangs football team.

Mario Jozic, LB Coach

Mario is a newcomer to the 2007 coaching staff. He was a member of the Catholic Central Football team that won two London City Championships and one OFSAA title. He was a two-time Defensive MVP while playing at Catholic Central. Mario was a member of the 2005 Forest City Thunderbirds team, where he was the Defensive Captain as well as the Defensive MVP.  Mario just finished playing his first year of football at the University of Western Ontario where he made the dress roster as a rookie. Currently, Mario is working on his B.A. in History and Political Science, after which he hopes to enter Law School. Mario Jozic is an outstanding addition to the Forest City Thunderbirds football team.

Jeff Bushell, DB Coach

Jeff is a newcomer to the 2007 coaching staff. He played for the University of Toronto for five years as a strong safety and weak safety. Jeff played in every game during his entire 5 years with the Blues. Prior to that he played for five years at South Secondary School where he was the top graduating athlete.

This is Jeff’s first year of teaching and he is currently the Head Coach of the Westminster Junior Football team. In his first year the Wildcats earned their first victory as a junior team in 5 years, were the first team at Westminster to make the playoffs in five years, and set several other school records.

Jeff completed his Masters at the University of Griffith in Australia.  

Dan Durack, Offensive Coordinator

The Offensive Coordinator, Dan Durack, is in his second year with the Forest City Thunderbirds staff. Dan was the Defensive Back coach in 2005.  Dan grew up playing football in Montreal within the North Shore Football Association dynasty. He has been involved in both playing and coaching football for as long as he can remember. Most notably, Dan played 5 years of varsity football for The Acadia University Axemen in Wolfville, Nova Scotia. He ended his 21 year long playing career there as a defensive back and special teams player. He then became one of the founding members of the Valley Minor Football Association from the Annapolis Valley of Nova Scotia. During this time, he also held the position of Head Coach for the first Bantam football team in the Annapolis Valley. Dan’s travels brought him westward again to coach briefly with the Oshawa Hawkeye Football Association, where he held the position of Defensive Coordinator and Special Teams coach. Dan has completed the NCCP Level II Technical Course. He is presently the event manager for the University of Western Ontario Varsity Athletics Department.

Dave Wallis, QB Coach

Dave returns for his third season with the Thunderbirds, working closely with the quarterbacks. His senior high school playing days began at Oakridge Secondary School under the guidance of a young Coach Darnell, fresh out of teachers college, the rest being ancient history. A graduate of Fanshawe College, Dave spent many years with Bell Canada, and after an 'early retirement', began his second career with London's Source for Sports. While managing and proudly building the football department bigger each year there, he stays very involved with the local football community from minor league to university. Dave gladly, and with much pride, gives as much of his spare time to the Thunderbirds any way he can during the season as well as the off season. He is passionate about the game of football and the continued development of players of all ages. Dave holds his NCCP Level 1 technical.

Jamie Kruspel, Offensive Line & Special Teams Coach

Jamie is a new addition to the coaching staff for 2007. He was a proud member of the inaugural Thunderbirds team and played 3 seasons everywhere on the offensive line.  After 4 seasons of football at Sir Wilfred Laurier Secondary School, highlighted by the 1998 City Championship, he had the privilege for playing for the 2000 and 2002 Thunderbirds GLFL Championship teams. He was named a league all-star in 2001 & 2002 and earned team Offensive MVP in 2002.

After leaving the Thunderbirds, he went on to complete his Engineering degree at the University of Western Ontario, but his days of playing organized football were over. A Londoner, born and raised, Jamie is proud to return to the Thunderbirds and will coach the Offensive Line and Special Teams. Jamie currently works for TD Canada Trust as an Environmental Project Manager.

Greg Sawatzky, Offensive Line Coach

Greg enters his first year of coaching with the Thunderbirds as offensive line coach.

He started playing football in grade nine at east Elgin Secondary School in Aylmer. In his four years of experience he has have played every offensive linemen position including long snap. He has also played a year at linebacker. Greg won two linemen of the year awards, the first coming in grade ten and the second in grade twelve.

His educational plan is to study Kinesiology or Physical Education at university, after which he hopes to become a high school teacher and coach.

Stephen Hepburn, Receivers Coach

This is Stephen’s first year coaching with the Thunderbirds. He has been involved with football from a very young age. He played his high school football at Medway High School, as a wide receiver and special teams. For the past 3 years Stephen has been assisting at Medway, coaching the junior team, as Receivers coach and last year as Offensive Coordinator. Stephen has also been involved with the London Minor Football Association, as both a referee and a coach. He has his level one with the Ontario Football Officials Association. 

John Kublinskas, Training Camp - RB Coach

John Kublinskas returns for his sixth season with the Thunderbirds staff.

John played for the Laurier Rams City Championship team in 1993 under Coach Darnell. After high school John went on to the University of Waterloo where he had an outstanding career playing Tight End for the Warriors under legendary coach Tuffy Knight and was a member of the Yates Cup Championship team. John has completed his NCCP Level II Technical.

John is presently teaching at Laurier Secondary School and is the Senior Football Coach.

Maurice Wiepjes, Video Coordinator

Lauren Prong, Manager

Chelsea Teuber , Manager