Thunder hire alum Macaulay as coach
REGINA — Twelve years have passed since Scott MacAulay suited up in full pads and played in a game for the Regina Thunder.
His attitude and dedication to the franchise hasn’t wavered over time.
“Something I have always been focused on has been helping this organization get better and better,” MacAulay said. “Football has been my passion. I love the Thunder and I have always wanted an opportunity to lead this team to bigger things.”
MacAulay was granted his wish on Thursday as he was hired as the team’s head coach. He replaces Erwin Klempner, who stepped down for personal reasons in late October after he served as the Thunder’s head coach for the past seven seasons. For MacAulay, this move is a promotion for him. He had been the special teams coordinator and linebackers coach for the Thunder for the past three years.
“Moving forward, I think coach MacAulay is the right guy to lead us,” Thunder linebacker Yianni Cabylis said. “He has high standards for everyone, we all know where he sets the bar. He expects a lot out of you as a player and he coaches in a way that makes you want to be the best you can.
“He always reminds us that Saskatchewan football is supposed to be hard-nosed, hard-hitting and aggressive. We want to live up to that.”
Under Klempner, the Thunder had reached the Prairie Football Conference championship game in two of the past three seasons. MacAulay looks to keep that trend alive. This past season, the Thunder posted a 4-4 record during the regular season and advanced to the PFC final where they were beat by the Saskatoon Hilltops.
Many of the key contributors to the 2012 team are expected to return in
“This team is experienced in winning,” MacAulay said. “We had a lot of thirdyear guys on the roster this season and we’re going to retain those guys, continue to develop the younger ones and make a really serious run at this thing. We were a young team last year, but we do have some veteran guys who can lead us.”
MacAulay, 34, also held several coaching positions over the last decade, including defensive co-ordinator of Team Saskatchewan for three seasons.