After eight seasons as the Carleton Ravens football head coach, Steve Sumarah was dismissed on Jan. 12. The team has welcomed three current and former players and coaches from the CFL’s Ottawa Redblacks to help coach the team this off-season while Carleton Athletics looks for Sumarah’s replacement.
The guests include Brad Sinopoli, who retired from the CFL before the 2021 season and is one of the best wide receivers in Redblacks history. Antoine Pruneau, who has been an anchor in the secondary for the Redblacks thanks to his talent, athleticism and speed, is also a guest. Mark Nelson, the final guest, was the Redblacks’ defensive coordinator from 2013 to 2017 and linebackers coach in 2018 and 2019. He has almost 30 years of coaching experience in the CFL and college football.
According to interim head coach Paul-Eddy Saint-Vilien, the guests have been with the team since Feb. 4, helping lead off-season practices. Their role is primarily player development and technique improvement, but they’re also fostering leadership and teamwork.
Saint-Vilien had nothing but praise for the talent and accolades of the three.
“They all know what it takes to be champions after winning the Grey Cup with the Redblacks in 2016,” he said.
Saint-Vilien said the presence of CFL players and coaches at practice benefits the team on and off the field.
“To have guys like [Sinopoli, Pruneau, and Nelson] telling you how to play the game the right way will help our game a lot,” Saint-Villien added. “That’s going to help [our players’] confidence immensely.”
Keaton Bruggeling is a third-year wide receiver for Carleton. He said Sinopoli brings a high level of expertise and insight into the game that is beneficial to his development.
“He understands the game deeper than probably anyone else I’ve come across,” Bruggeling said. “He has recently played so he understands new schemes and tactics and as a result can explain it [to us] so much easier.”
Sinopoli said he doesn’t have a lot of coaching experience, but what he’s learned as a player is helping him coach the Ravens wide receivers.
Bruggeling said having coaches who played at a high level can help the players stay focused, especially at an uncertain time for Carleton’s coaching staff.
The transition period between coaches is difficult for both players and coaches. In addition to skill development, Sinopoli’s role is a supportive one.
“These guys are committed to … certain coaching staff, so it can be tough when that changes for those players,” Sinopoli said. “They can feel uncertain, especially in the off-season.”
“We just have to be there to maintain consistency as best as we possibly can and I try my best to provide stability for the players and be there for anything they need,” Sinopoli added.
Saint-Vilien says it has been more difficult to coach with changes in the staff, but Sinopoli, Pruneau, and Nelson have helped make it easier. His main message to the team is to not worry about who the next head coach will be and instead think about things they can control, like improving their game.
“I don’t control what’s going to happen. The only thing I control is that we can practice until April,” Saint-Vilien said. “We’re just focusing on practising and getting better every week.”
Bruggeling said coaching changes do create difficult and uncertain times but shouldn’t change anything about their off-season training routine.
“The only challenges are in between your ears because we can’t control anything outside of our own game and it’s not up to us,” Bruggeling said. “We just have to grind and continue to put our best foot forward to improve our game so the program can succeed whoever the next coach is.”
Featured image provided by Cole Lawrence/Carleton Ravens.
