 |
Forest City Thunderbirds Football Club |
 |
|
Navigation:
2010 Sponsor: Game Day Forecast:
|
 |
 |
|
Coaches - 2008 John Darnell, Head Coach and General Manager
The 2008 season marks John's 38th year coaching football. John 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. Presently, John is entering his 5th season as the Assistant Head Football Coach at St. Francis Xavier University in Antigonish, Nova Scotia. 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 GLFL Provincial Champions in 2000 and 2002, GLFL Provincial Finalists in 2001, and SCOFL Championship Finalists in 2005. The London Sports Council presented John the 2001 Ontario 3M Community Coach Award in recognition of his outstanding contribution. Coach Darnell is fully certified NCCP Level IV. John Kublinskas, Running Backs Coach 
John Kublinskas returns for his seventh season with the Thunderbirds staff as the running backs coach. 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 team. John has completed his NCCP Level II Technical. John entered is presently teaching at Laurier Secondary School in London and is the Senior Football Coach. Dave Wallis, QB Coach 
Dave returns for his fourth season with the Thunderbirds as QB coach. 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 program bigger each year there, he stays very involved with the 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. Chad Asselstine, Defensive Coordinator  This is Chad Asselstine’s 2nd year as the Defensive Coordinator for the Forest City Thunderbirds. Chad 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 championship, and receiving two all star nominations. He was the Thunderbirds defensive MVP in 2000 and 2001. Chad finished his playing career after four successful seasons with the University of Western Ontario Mustangs where he played two years at Linebacker and two at Defensive End where he started for his last two years. Chad began coaching Linebackers during his summers while playing for UWO. Jeff Bushell, DB Coach 
Jeff is returning for his second year with the Thunderbirds coaching staff as a DB coach. 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 second 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. Don Elliott, LB Coach 
Don is returning for his second season as a member of the 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 4th year at the University of Western Ontario studying Psychology. This past fall he was a member of the London Beefeaters and was a member of the Mustangs football team from 2005-2007. This past September Don returned to South SS to coach the Senior Football team's Linebackers to a very successful season. Greg Sawatzky, OL Coach 
Greg is entering his second year of coaching with the Thunderbirds as an offensive line coach. Greg started playing football in grade 9 at East Elgin Secondary School in Aylmer. In his five years of experience he has played every linemen position including long snap. Greg’s educational plans are to study business administration at St. Francis Xavier University after which he hopes to teach high school and continue to coach football. Andrew MacDonald, LB Coach 
Andrew enters his first year coaching with the Forest City Thunderbirds as a LB coach. He played LB with the 2007 Thunderbirds, and has been playing Football for the past twelve years as a linebacker and running back. He is graduating from Arthur Voaden Secondary School in St. Thomas. Andrew’s goals are to play university football and study sports medicine. Brad Minnice, Receivers Coach 
Brad Minnice enters his first year as a member of the Thunderbirds coaching staff. Brad played for Coach Darnell at Laurier Secondary School. Brad is looking forward to coaching as a way to continue his love for the game. Bryan Lusk, Receivers Coach 
Bryan's starting his first season of coaching with the Thunderbirds as a receivers coach. He is pursuing a strong interest he has in the game of football. He has been involved with all aspects of hockey through participating as a player, instructor, referee and coach. Bryan now looks to transferring his experiences to the football field and take on a new challenge. Bryan is in his first year teaching in the London area at Medway High School and has his level one NCCP coaching certification. Dave Carnevale, DB Coach 
Dave enters his first year with the Thunderbirds coaching staff. He played high school football in Mississauga at Iona Catholic Secondary School for 3 seasons, and 3 seasons in the OVFL for the Mississauga Warriors, winning the championship twice. He played with the University of Western Ontario Mustangs from 1999 – 2001. Dave began his coaching career at London Central with their Junior Football program, where he coached for 5 seasons (2002 – 2006). He started out as a positional coach with the DB’s and ended as their Defensive Coordinator for the 2006 season. His Central Ghosts won the Junior City Championship in 2004 and 2006. Dave presently coaches at Arthur Voaden Secondary School in St. Thomas and was the defensive coordinator in 2007. He is also involved with the SAC (Strength, Agility and Conditioning) program through the London Legion Track club for high school athletes, specifically football players. Geoff St-Denis, OL Coach 
Geoff is a newcomer to the 2008 coaching staff. He played Offensive Guard throughout high school with the Catholic Central Crusaders in London, winning two London Conference City Championships, two Provincial Championships and the Canadian National Championship in 1997. Geoff then attended the University of Indianapolis on a scholarship. He played for the U of I Greyhounds for two years before transferring home to London to play with the University of Western Ontario Mustangs. From 2001-2004, Geoff was named an OUA first team All-star three times, a CIS All-Canadian in 2004, won The Dr. Vincent A. Callaghan Trophy as UWO’s Lineman of the Year two times, and was a UWO Purple Blanket recipient in 2005. Geoff also signed an off-season contract and attended the Winnipeg Blue Bombers training camp in the spring of 2005 but was released due to injury. Geoff graduated from UWO with a Bachelor of Kinesiology in 2004, and will graduate from the J. G. Althouse, Faculty of Education at UWO in 2008. He has completed the NCCP Level I Technical Course and the NCCP Part B Theory Course. Geoff’s coaching career includes experience as offensive coordinator and offensive line coach for Medway high school (2007), guest coach at Forest City Football Camp (twice) and offensive line coach for Catholic Central high school (2003). Geoff lives in North York with his wife Janice. Keith Pressey, DL Coach Keith enters his first year of coaching with the Forest City Thunderbirds as a defensive line coach. He has played football since grade nine at East Elgin in Aylmer. Keith has played both offensive and defensive line predominately playing on the defensive side of the ball. Keith has played all defensive line positions but played more often as either the nose tackle or the strong side defensive end. Keith was the defensive captain in his senior years at East Elgin, where he earned the lineman of the year award. Keith plans to attend university to earn his honors in accounting as well as coach at the high school level. Joe Gregorio, RB Coach This is Joe's first year with the Thunderbirds where he will be working with the offensive back field. He began coaching football in the London Minor Football League in 2003 with the South Titans (Pee Wee division) where he assisted with the defensive secondary for four seasons. Joe has also coached in the NFL/CFL Junior Player Development program that teaches fundamental football skills to kids who have an interest in the game but have not had the chance to play before. Joe has completed the Technical (Football Coaching) Level I & Level II courses as well as the Level I - Coaching Theory course of the National Coaching Certification Program. Justin Tsui, LB Coach Justin enters his first year with the Thunderbirds staff as LB coach. Justin is presently teaching at Sir Frederick Banting Secondary School and is also the Defensive Coordinator for the Junior Football team. Justin also coaches high school football players in a Speed, Agility, and Conditioning program at the London Legion Track and Field Club. Peter Clark, Receivers Coach This is Peter's first season coaching with the Thunderbirds. He played 3 seasons with the Thunderbirds (2003, 2004, 2005), and was awarded the rookie of the year honor in 2003. While with the thunderbirds, he played tight end, slot receiver, and full back. He also spent 2 seasons with the London Beefeaters. He played high school football at South Secondary. Peter is completing his diploma at Fanshawe College where he studies Police Foundations. Jim Wernham, Physiotherapist Jim is returning to the Thunderbirds this year as team Physiotherapist. He last worked with the team from 2002-2004 as a trainer and coach before heading to the University of Alberta to attain his Masters degree in physiotherapy. He played with the Thunderbirds in 2001 and was named as a GLFL all-star that season. Jim's undergraduate studies at the University of Western Ontario were focused in sport medicine. During that time he worked extensively with UWO wrestling, as well as several other teams, and was selected to speak at the 2003 UWO Athletic Injuries Seminar on the topic of concussion management. Since then, he has worked for teams at the provincial and college levels and has provided care at international competitions. Jim is a member of the Sport Division of the Canadian Physiotherapy Association and now works at Body Mechanics Physiotherapy in downtown London. Previous Years
|
| Copyright © 2000-2010 Forest City Thunderbirds Football Club Any use of any information on this web site without the written consent of the Forest City Thunderbirds Football Club is strictly prohibited. For information and to request permission contact fctbirds@golden.net |
||||
