Former Tiger-Cats assistant heads to University of Waterloo
WATERLOO (CFL.ca wire) – The University of Waterloo announced the appointment of Dennis McPhee as the new head coach of the Warriors football program on Friday.
McPhee has coached with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats for 10 seasons, including the last two as the defensive front coach. He served as linebacker coach from 1994 to 2002 then returned to coach the defensive front seven from 2004 to 2006. He was a member of the Grey Cup champions in 1999.
In between his stints with the Tiger-Cats, McPhee was head coach of St. Francis Xavier from 2002 to 2004. McPhee turned the X-Men program from 27th ranked in the CIS to seventh ranked in 2002 and was named AUS Coach of the Year. In his two seasons at St. FX head coach McPhee compiled 12-8 record reaching the playoffs in both years.
McPhee has deep roots in the CIS, in particular the OUA and the Golden Triangle. He has coached with both the University of Guelph and McMaster University in the 1990s, including a Yates Cup Championship in 1992 as defensive coach with the Gryphons. McPhee has also been director of the Ticats annual high school evaluation camps for several years and has been a CIS headline speaker and presenter at CFL/NFL coaches enhancement programs.
During his playing days at Saint Mary’s University (1977-1982), McPhee was a two-sport athlete competing at the varsity level on both the hockey and football teams. He was a five-year starter in football and was captain in his final two seasons with the Huskies.
“I am so pleased to introduce Coach McPhee to the Warrior program,” said Waterloo director of athletics Judy McCrae. “He will be a tremendous asset to our football program, and indeed our whole athletic department. He has a genuine and sincere interest in football being the vehicle for these student athletes to develop while at university. He believes in educating the whole person. He has a proven record in his sport. He values relationship building and being part of a team. I am energized to begin working with Coach McPhee.”
