John Buck – Head Coach / Special Teams Coordinator / Linebackers Coach

Coach Buck has been coaching football in the Ottawa area since 1997 after having played with the Bell Warriors and Myers Riders. He has previously coached in the National Capital Amateur Football Association (NCAFA) with the Bell Warriors Peewee team (6 years) and was the head coach of the Myers Riders Bantam team (5 championships in 10 years). He has also coached as a defensive coordinator and special teams coordinator at the high school level with the South Carleton Storm and in the Ontario Varsity Football League (OVFL) with the Myers Riders. He is an NCCP Level 3 Coach and trained Learning Facilitator, trained in Safe Contact, and holds a degree in Civil Engineering from Carleton University. He was named 2014 OFC Coach of the Year in his first season with the Sooners.

Matt Kassner – Defensive Coordinator / Assistant Head Coach / Recruiting Coordinator

Coach Kassner played minor and high school football locally with the Nepean Redskins, Myers Riders and Merivale Marauders before attending Acadia University to play with the Axemen, and the University of Ottawa to play with the Gee Gees. He has been a defensive coordinator at the Varsity level of the OVFL and is the current head coach & defensive coordinator of the Junior Varsity Myers Riders team. He is well versed on both sides of the ball, having previously served as an offensive coordinator at the Junior Varsity level and as an offensive assistant with the University of Ottawa Gee Gees. Kassner, a three time Academic All-Canadian, holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree and Master’s Degree in Electronic Business Technologies. He is trained in Safe Contact.

Kyle Kirkwood – Offensive Coordinator / Quarterbacks Coach

Coach Kirkwood, a native of Sudbury, played his university football with the University of Ottawa Gee Gees before being drafted by the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League in 2007. After his time with the Lions was cut short due to injury, Kirkwood got involved with coaching the Nepean Redskins Peewee team (2009-2012). He has also served as offensive coordinator with the Junior Varsity Myers Riders team under Coach Kassner and coached at the university level with the Gee Gees. Kirkwood authored the 2012 Football Canada Technical Manual for Offensive Line, and holds both a Communications degree and a Sport Business Management Graduate Certificate.

Marc Bourgon – Offensive Line Coach

Coach Bourgon has been coaching for nearly 20 years at various levels, including Tyke, Varsity OVFL, and the Ottawa Junior Riders for two seasons, where he won the QJFL championship in 2000. From 2003-13 he coached the Myers Riders Bantam team with head coach John Buck, winning five NCAFA championships. A product of the Myers Riders, Bourgon played his CIS football for the Carleton Ravens and finished playing with the Ottawa Junior Riders. He is a graduate of Carleton University and is NCCP Level 1 Certified. Bourgon lives in Ottawa with his wife Alison and son Elliott.

Rod Cressman – Running Backs Coach

Coach Cressman comes to the Sooners after previously spending 5 seasons as assistant head coach and offensive coordinator at Fellowes High School in Pembroke. Previous to his time at Fellowes, he has served as offensive coordinator with NCAFA’s West Carleton Wolverines. Cressman, who began coaching in his hometown of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, has also been involved in the development of youth football in the Pembroke area. He is an NCCP trained running backs coach and is trained in Safe Contact.

Corey Dempsey – Offensive Line Coach

Coach Dempsey, a product of the Niagara Regional Minor Football Association (NRMFA), attended McMaster University where he played on the offensive line. After his playing career was cut short due to injury, he got involved in coaching offensive and defensive line and helped his St. Paul Catholic (Niagara Falls) team to a regional championship in 2010. He is proud to have been involved in grooming several players from the Niagara region to play university football. Dempsey holds both a Communications degree and a Sport Business Management Graduate Certificate.

Matt Edgeworth – Receivers Coach

Coach Edgeworth, a native of Kingston, came to Ottawa where he excelled as a receiver with the University of Ottawa Gee Gees from 2003-2007. He has since coached several levels of football in Ottawa, including stints with the Nepean Redskins, Junior Varsity Myers Riders, Holy Trinity Tornadoes and University of Ottawa Gee Gees. Edgeworth, a school teacher, has also coached in multiple AIA High School All-Star games.

Jonathan Ferguson – Defensive Backs Coach

Coach Ferguson played football locally with the Kanata Knights, Bell Warriors and Bel-Air Norsemen. He has coached at several levels of NCAFA with the Bell Warriors as a defensive backs coach, defensive coordinator and head coach. He also serves as defensive backs coach and co-defensive coordinator with the Junior Varsity Myers Riders under Coach Kassner and was the head coach for the Wettges Conference in the 2015 OVFL Prospects Game. Ferguson is a graduate of Carleton University and is trained in Safe Contact.

Randy Fournier – Defensive Line Coach

Coach Fournier, a product of Sudbury, attended the University of Cincinnati on a football scholarship. Following his four years with the Bearcats, he played for the Ottawa Rough Riders, BC Lions and Hamilton Tiger Cats of the CFL. His coaching career has included stints with the Ottawa Sooners (1992 National Champions), Carleton University, the University of Ottawa (under three different head coaches, including a Vanier Cup championship in 2000), and the University of Western Ontario. Fournier has also coached Team Canada’s U-19 entry four times (winning three championships) and has guest coached with the CFL’s Saskatchewan Roughriders and Ottawa Renegades.

Craig Hodge – Defensive Line Coach

Coach Hodge, a native of Kanata, played his university football on a scholarship with the Valdosta State Blazers (NCAA Gulf South Conference) and played junior football on two separate occasions with the Ottawa Sooners. He has played semi-professionally for a total of 13 years with Montreal, New York and Ottawa (Empire Football League) and with the Ottawa Invaders (Northern Football Conference). He has also played professionally in Italy with the Bergamo Lions. He has previously coached with the Nepean Eagles Midget team and continues to coach with the Ottawa Invaders as their defensive coordinator. Hodge holds an Associate’s Degree in Network Administration and is employed in the high-tech sector. He is trained in Safe Contact.

Rob Webb – Receivers Coach

Coach Webb’s love for football dates back to 1975 when he began playing for the Quebec Provincial Champion Philemon Wright Falcons. He has since been involved on the Ottawa football scene for more than 25 years, having been a long-time valued member of the Nepean Redskins (now Eagles) organization. He has coached several successful teams including the Canadian National U-17 champions (2004) and the NCAFA Midget champions (2003 & 2005). He recently coached in the 2015 AIA High School All-Star Game. He is an NCCP Level 2 coach and is trained in Safe Contact.