Queen's Golden Gaels Football

Queen's Pat Sheahan Named OUA Football Coach of the Year

Hamilton, Ont. (November 8, 2007) - Queen's University Head Football Coach Pat Sheahan was named Ontario University Athletics (OUA) Football Coach of the Year as announced earlier today by the OUA at a media conference in Hamilton.

Sheahan helped guide the Gaels to a 6-2 regular season record including a third place finish and Queen's first home playoff game since 2003.

This is the second time Sheahan has earned OUA Coach of the Year honours and his fourth time receiving Coach of the Year honours in leagues he has coached in. He earned the nod as the league's top coach in 2001 with the Gaels and previously in the now defunct Ontario-Quebec Intercollegiate Football Conference (OQIFC) in 1990 and 1998 with the Concordia Stingers.

"ItÕs an honour to be recognized and I am pleased to accept this award on behalf of Queen's University, the players as well as the coaching staff," said Sheahan. "Individual awards in football are usually based on the collective efforts of many people; I feel this award is no different."

"Our coaching staff did a great job at elevating our team's level of play in 2007 and we had a very dedicated group of players who left everything out on the field."

Sheahan was also at the helm for the school's first 1,000-yard rusher when Mike Giffin of Kingston, Ont. amassed 1,157 yards this season. The 1,000 yard mark is something that both Giffin and Sheahan attribute to team play.

"Everyone has played a part (in Giffin's record); from the offensive line, receivers and let's not forget about the defence who have given us many opportunities time and time again," said Sheahan following the game the record was broken. "I believe this is a tremendous team statistic."

Earlier this week the Queen's Golden Gaels also placed a conference leading 12 players on the OUA first and second team all-star teams with six on each unit.

Sheahan will be the OUA's representative for the CIS Coach of the Year award named after legendary Queen's coach Frank Tindal. The Frank Tindall Trophy will be named the Thursday prior to the Vanier Cup on November 22. The Vanier Cup will take place on November 23 at the Rogers Centre in Toronto.

The OUA also announced its other major football winners today including Most Valuable Player: Josh Sacobie (Fredricton, N.B.) of the Ottawa Gee-Gees; Linemen of the Year: J.P. Scott Evans (Cambrdige, Ont.) of the Wilfred Laurier Golden Hawks; Rookie of the Year Ryan Chmielewsk (St. Catharines, Ont.) of McMaster Marauders; Defensive Player of the Year: Anthony Maggiacomo (Waterloo, Ont.) of the Wilfred Laurier Golden Hawks; and the Russ Jackson Award: Mike Goncalves (Toronto) from the University of Toronto Varsity Blues.