Steve Szabo presents at the 2009 NCFCA Clinic

Steve Szabo has coached the defensive line, linebackers and defensive backs at both the college and NFL levels. He coached in the Super Bowl (2003) and games where the national championship were on the line (Ohio State vs. USC, 1980 Rose Bowl).

Szabo was the defensive backs coach with the Buffalo Bills during 2004 and 2005 seasons. Under his guidance, the Bills' defence increased its interception output by 14, posting 24 interceptions in 2004. Prior to his stint in Buffalo, Szabo worked with the New England Patriots (2003) and the Jacksonville Jaguars (1994-2002).

In his nine years as Jacksonville's linebackers coach, the team became the most successful expansion team in NFL history.

Before joining the professional ranks, Szabo was the defensive coordinator at Boston College for three seasons (1991-93), helping the Eagles improve from a 4-7 record in 1990 to 9-3 in 1993 combined with a No. 12 final national ranking.

Szabo was head coach at Edinboro University for three seasons (1985-87) and was named Coach of the Year in the small college division of Western Pennsylvania by the Pittsburgh Press in 1986.

After his head coaching stint at Edinboro, Szabo spent the 1988 season as an assistant coach at Northern Iowa. He served as defensive coordinator at Colorado State for two seasons (1989-90), helping improve the squad from 1-10 in 1988 to 9-4 in 1990.

Szabo spent 25 years in the college ranks, with stints as an assistant coach at Johns Hopkins, Toledo, Syracuse, Iowa State, Western Michigan and Big Ten rivals Ohio State (1979-81) and Iowa (1971-73).

Clint Uttley, Defensive Coordinator – McGill Redman

A 34-year-old native of Orillia, Ont., Clint Uttley was appointed as a full-time associate coach and defensive coordinator at McGill University in January, 2008. He will also serve as a position coach, responsible for the linebackers. Previously, Uttley was the special teams coordinator and defensive backs coach at the University of British Columbia for two seasons after six campaigns under Sonny Wolfe at Acadia University, where he served his final two years as assistant head coach and defensive coordinator with the Axemen.

A linebacker at St. Mary's high school in Hamilton, he went on to play junior for the Burlington Braves, then played at Champlain Regional College in Lennoxville, Que., where he was part of their 1995 Bol d'Or junior college championship.

Uttley went on to play five seasons at middle linebacker for Acadia (1996 to 2000) where he was a four-year starter and team captain for two seasons. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in 2000, followed by an education degree in 2004. Currently working on a master's degree in education, Uttley began his coaching career as an assistant with the Huronia Stallions of the Ontario Varsity Football League in Orillia, each summer from 1998 to 2002.

During his stops at Acadia & UBC, Uttley coached eight CIS All-Canadians, three President's Trophy nominees (most outstanding defensive player in the CIS), a J.P. Metras Trophy nominee (most outstanding lineman), a Peter Gorman nominee (most outstanding rookie) and two Russ Jackson Award nominees (the player who best combine academics, athletics and citizenship). Five of Coach Uttley’s players have moved onto the CFL, two those players being drafted in the first round. Current McGill defensive back Anthony Lucca is currently ranked the number 12 prospect in the country. 

Ryan Bechmanis - Defensive Back Coach – Queen’s University

Coach Bechmanis is in his 2nd season as the DB coach with the Queen’s Golden Gaels.  He has also worked with the Special Teams the past 2 seasons as well.  He joined the staff in 2007 after graduate from the Sports Business Management program at Algonquin College.  He did his undergrad in Physical and Health Education at Queen’s while playing 5 years at DB for the Gaels.  Coach Bechmanis has also worked with the Eastern Ontario U17 Team for the past 2 seasons, and will be with them again this summer.  He was the general manager in 2007 and has coached DBs for both years with the team. He has also spent time in Denmark as a player/coach for a season, coached with the Kingston Grenadiers of the OVFL and worked with Regiopolous Notre Dame High School in Kingston. 

Christian Audet, Head Coach – Cégep Beauce-Appalaches

Coaching Experiences 1989 to 1991 - Oshawa Hawkeyes – Pee-wee, Bantam and Midget.  A community minor organization for which I coached three categories during my postsecondary studies.

1993 to 1996 - Les Phénix du Collège André-Grasset – Collégial AAA. During these four years I was employed full-time as a counsellor-educator and football coach. I evolved from an assistant on offense to assisting the head-coach. I coordinated the offense and was also responsible for the strength and conditioning.

1997 to 1998 - Les Vikings de Laval-Nord – Midget AAA My first head coaching position and the first year we made the semi-finals with a perfect season. The second year we won our division title.

1999 to 2000 - Les Nomades du Collège Montmorency – Collegial AA My second head coaching opportunity, I helped create a new program. During the first year, with only 31 players and 16 of those having never played, we made it all the way to the semi-finals.

2000 to 2002 - Les Loups de Curé-Antoine-Labelle – Juvenile A et AAA While coaching at Montmorency, I also coached at Curé-Antoine-Labelle. I left Montmorency to accept the head-coaching position at Curé-Antoine-Labelle. Some of my responsibilities were to assist the physical-education teacher in instructing football classes and supply teaching.

2003 to 2004 - Les Rebelles du Cégep de Sorel-Tracy – Collegial AA Full-time position as a Head-Coach and volunteered to assist at the local high-school. We created a new program and my responsibilities included managing a 150,000.00$ budget, recruiting, planning, organizing and directing the annual strength and conditioning program. I was also responsible for the academic follow-up and the supervision of the study periods.

2005 – Champlain College Cougars, Lennoxville – Collegial AAA Coordinated the offense, recruited, planned, organized and managed the annual strength and conditioning. Administered the academic follow-up and supervised the study periods.

2006 to 2007 – University of Ottawa Gee-Gees – CIS Assistant on offense and was part of the special teams group. In August of 2007, I was hired full-time as the Intramural Sports Assistant Coordinator of the University of Ottawa. 1995 to 2006 - Excellence Football Programme U-20-M and U-17-M

Jason Kana, Offensive Assistant – McMaster Marauders

Jason currently is the offensive spotter and offensive assistant with the McMaster Marauders. Prior to that he was the Guelph Gryphons offensive coordinator in 2006 and 2007. As a player at Mount Allison, he was selected as a 3-time AUAA conference all-star in ’95, ’96 and ’97 and captained the team to an AUAA Championship in 1997, a game he was consecutively involved in five times, 1996-2000. In 1998, he was a player/coach for Les Orcs de Chateauroux of France (of the French premier elite league). In the fall of that same year, he returned to Mount Allison as the offensive line coach and graduated in 1999. In May 2001, he completed his Bachelor of Education at Acadia University. During his two years at Acadia, he was the offensive line coach and in his final year, he took on the added role of player/coach, using his remaining year of CIAU eligibility.

For Five years Coach Kana was the Head Coach and Offensive Coordinator of the CJFL’s Burlington Braves Junior Football Club. Kana’s Braves reached the Ontario Football Conference Championship game in 2003. That same year, he was named Coach of the Year in the OFC. The St. Thomas raised Kana has most recently been a teacher at Thomas A. Blakelock High School in Oakville where he also coaches the football team.