Cummins named to Senior Team Canada Staff

OTTAWA, ON - Team Canada head coach Greg Marshall has selected his coaching staff for the 2015 International Federation of American Football (IFAF) Senior [Men's] World Championship in Sweden. Returning from the 2011 staff are Jeff Cummins (defensive line), Blake Nill (linebackers) and Steve Sumarah (running backs) who will be joined by Glen Constantin (defensive coordinator), Kelly Jeffries (offensive coordinator) and Stefan Ptaszek (receivers).

The 2015 Senior World Championship will mark Canada second entry into the tournament held every four years since 1999. Canada captured silver at their inaugural 2011 competition in Austria. Canada's roster included a number of past and current CFL players including Shamawd Chambers (Edmonton Eskimos), Lirim Hajrullahu, Michel-Pierre Pontbriand and Jake Thomas (Winnipeg Blue Bombers), Matt Walter (Calgary Stampeders), Matt Norman (BC Lions) as well as former CFL standout Adriano Belli.

Click here to view coaching staff bios.

Coaching staff bios

Greg Marshall – head coach

Currently the head coach at his alma mater, Western University, Marshall is a veteran of international football having served as Canada's offensive coordinator at the 2011 [Men's] Senior World Championship in Austria. In addition, Marshall served on the IFAF World Team coaching staff since its inception in 2010 as offensive line coach before taking over as head coach the following two years. In 2012, Marshall led the World Team to a 35-29 International Bowl victory which marked Team USA's first defeat in international competition.

After serving as offensive coordinator in 2006, coach Marshall took over as Western's head coach following the retirement of legendary coach Larry Haylor who served as Canada's head coach at Canada's inaugural IFAF Senior World Championship.

A former Hec Crighton winner at Western, Marshall began coaching collegiately in 1984 under Haylor, serving as offensive coordinator from 1992 to 1996. Following a 5-year stint as Western offensive coordinator, he was hired by McMaster as their head coach in 1997.

Under his leadership, McMaster won four consecutive Yates Cups from 2000 to 2003 during Marshall's 7 year tenure. In December 2003, he made the jump to the CFL coaching ranks, becoming the first Canadian born head coach in Hamilton Tiger-Cats history. The following year he led the Ticats to a dramatic turnaround, culminating in the team's first playoff appearance in 3 seasons earning CFL Coach of the Year honours.

Marshall played four seasons with the Mustangs from 1978 to 1981, winning the Hec Crighton Award as the nation's top university player in 1980. In a career which spanned 1982 to 1984 with the Edmonton Eskimos, he earned a Grey Cup ring in 1982 before a knee injury sidelined his playing career.

Glen Constantin – defensive coordinator

In charge of Canada's defense is longtime Laval head coach Glen Constantin. He boasts previous international experience, serving as Canada's head coach at the 2009 IFAF Junior [now U-19] World Championships as well as at the NFL Global Juniors. Constantin originally joined Laval as defensive coordinator in 1996 and became the program's second head coach in December 2000. While at the helm of Laval, he's lead the Rouge et Or to seven Vanier Cup titles in eight appearances.

Kelly Jeffries – offensive coordinator

Leading Canada's offensive charge in 2015 is Mount Allison head coach Kelly Jeffries. First joining the ever-improving Mounties in 2006 as an assistant coach, Jeffries spent nearly a decade coaching in the NCAA (1994-2005). Prior to Mt. A he served as head coach and offensive coordinator at Mayville State University in North Dakota for four years (2002-'05) and has also coached quarterbacks at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) (2001) and University of San Diego (1998-2000).

Jeff Cummins – defensive line

Returning as the team's defensive line coach is Jeff Cummins who became head coach at Acadia University in 2003. In 2011 and 2012, Cummins led the Axemen to 7-1 regular season records and back-to-back AUS championship wins over St. Mary's. During his tenure as Axemen head coach, four teams he's earned Atlantic University Sport coach of the year honours (2004, 2005, 2011 and 2012), receiving the Frank Tindall Award as CIS National Coach of the Year in 2011.

Blake Nill - linebackers

A native of Hanna, Alberta, Blake Nill returned to his home province in 2006 to serve as University of Calgary head coach. Since taking over the program, he's built the Dinos into one of the top programs in Canada, making appearances in the national championship 3 of the past 5 seasons. Prior to the University of Calgary, Nill led St. Mary's University to Vanier Cup championships in 2001 and 2002 and was a finalist twice more. Nill was named CIS coach of the year in 1999, being named a finalist 6 additional times.  

Steve Sumarah – running backs

Canada's quarterbacks and receivers coach in 2011, Steve Sumarah will slide over to coach running backs in Sweden. Sumarah became the 14^th coach in Carleton Ravens history and the first since the team's revival in 2013. Prior to Carleton, Sumarah spent 17 years coaching in the AUS, most recently 7 years as head coach at St. Mary's University. During his tenure at SMU, he led the Huskies to four consecutive AUS titles, a Uteck Bowl championship and a Vanier Cup appearance. 

Stefan Ptaszek – receivers

McMaster University head coach Stefan Ptaszek led the Marauders to one of the most memorable Vanier Cup victories in recent history – a second half comeback against defending champion Laval in 2011. Ptaszek was named head coach at McMaster in 2006 after serving as offensive coordinator at Wilfrid Laurier the previous three seasons which included back-to-back Yates Cup titles and as well as a 2005 Vanier Cup title.