The Carleton Ravens football team continued to add to their coaching staff Sept. 27 by hiring former University of Ottawa Gee-Gees quarterback Josh Sacobie as their new receiver coach, according to the team’s website.
“It’s an excellent opportunity for me and I’m just happy it happened in the right time in my career,” Sacobie said.
“I think there are a lot of energetic coaches going in a great direction to building something new. I’m just a young, ambitious, energetic coach going into a coaching staff that is exactly like that.”
Sacobie had a solid career with the Gee-Gees, serving as their starting quarterback for five years. He was nominated for the Hec Crighton Award in his fifth and final season, which is given to the Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) MVP.
Despite his history as a star quarterback, Ravens head coach Steve Sumarah said Sacobie’s knowledge of the passing game and relationship with offensive co-ordinator J.P. Asselin — dating back to when both were Gee-Gees teammates — made Sacobie the perfect fit as receiver coach.
“We thought it made more sense with [Asselin] being the offensive co-ordinator and working closely with the quarterbacks for Josh to be working hand in hand with him coaching receivers,” Sumarah said.
“He’ll be able to coach receivers based on what a quarterback is going to see and understand, and he’ll be able to pass that knowledge on to our players.”
Sacobie is certainly not a newcomer to coaching, as he has been behind the bench since he graduated from Ottawa in 2008, most recently working with Football Canada in player development and serving as the Gee-Gees’ quarterback coach last year.
“I’ve had my hands in coaching ever since I finished playing and I haven’t stopped since,” he said.
“My heart is at coaching, I really believe that, and I’m just fortunate to have [Sumarah] and the rest of the coaches to give me the opportunity to come to Carleton.”
Sumarah said Sacobie will be a great addition to the staff. However, Sumarah said they targeted Sacobie for more than just his coaching abilities.
“Another part of Josh’s position is going to be concerning community involvement, so he’s going to help us with our football camps and organizing team events,” Sumarah said. “We really thought he was a big-name guy who could get out in the community and really make an impact for us in that aspect.”
According to Sacobie, the chance to work in the administrative side as well was another reason why he is excited about the job.
“It also involves a position of program and community relations where we can build a presence in the Ottawa community for football,” he said. “I really liked their ideas and vision moving forward, so when Steve created the position and approached me about it I was happy to accept.”
Sacobie is also the third former Gee-Gees coach in the last seven months to move to their cross-town rivals and join the rebirth of the Ravens football team, following Asselin and new offensive line coach Chris Coulson.
“I think they’re excited about the direction we’re taking with the program,” Sumarah said. “I think people enjoy the storyline of it, but my philosophy is simply to find the best coaches and the best people to work with.”
“I’ve been fortunate enough not to receive too much hate mail,” Sacobie said with a laugh. “I understand there’s an existent rivalry even though Carleton hasn’t had a program in some time. For me, I had to look for the best interests of myself and my family and this was too good of an opportunity to pass up.”
But while Sacobie did admit he will always be connected with the University of Ottawa, he said there will be a balance between the schools amid the rivalry on the football field.
“I’ll be a Gee-Gee forever, my heart is as a Gee-Gee,” he said. “I know there will be a lot of perceptions out there, whether it be alumni or former players, but that’s out of my control. I can only control my decision that I thought about for a long time, and [joining the Ravens’ coaching staff] was too positive for my career at this point in time.”
