Kevin Mackey resigns as Head Coach of the Gaiters
After the Gaiters left Coulter Field Saturday afternoon following their 39-6 loss to the Concordia Stingers. A major change with the program was revealed Sunday. After careful thought and consideration. The 2013 Frank Tindall Coach of the Year Award winner Kevin Mackey has submitted his resignation from his position as the Gaiters head football coach.
The day after the Concordia loss Mackey announced his decision to the team first in a private meeting in the team’s locker room on Sunday.
The Gaiters have had three consecutive one win seasons under Mackey, finishing at the bottom of the RSEQ each year since their second-place finish in 2013. Mackey was awarded the Frank Tindall award in his second year as the team’s head coach going 6-2 the same year quarterback Jordan Heather was awarded the Hec Creighton trophy for his record-breaking season.
In the school’s press release Mackey’s statement said
"Having grown increasingly frustrated with the overall conditions and continued leadership turbulence at Bishop's University, I am choosing to leave on good terms. I will deeply miss the players, coaches, alumni, support staff and many others. It was a joy to coach the players who proudly wore the Gaiter uniform week after week, stood side by side, never gave up and continued to improve despite a sometimes-difficult landscape. I am confident the future is bright for these young men, both on and off the field. I wish to convey a very personal and public thank you to the players and all the best to the Bishop's Gaiters football program moving forward."
In addition to not having an athletic director, Bishop’s University is now without a head coach for their football team.
The cloud over Bishop’s University Athletics is eerily reminiscent of 2011 when head coach Leroy Blugh left the team for personal reasons and later in the year interim head coach and
Athletic Director Tony Addona left for a position at the Université de Montreal in the months following.
Blugh is currently the defensive line coach for the Ottawa Redblacks in the CFL and Addona has been an assistant coach for the Carabins under Dany Maciocia since 2012.
Bishop’s now in need of a new Athletic Director and head football coach must get on track if they want to operate a competitive and profitable program.
Student attendance has been close to non-existent at across all sporting events and the atmosphere around the community has lost several traditions through their absence.
Students were disappointed when the school removed the ‘plexiglass’ from Mitchell Gymnasium earlier in the year as it was a major part of the experience of going to basketball games. Many students and alumni feel that the University is neglecting the very individuals that should be their primary supporters. Bishop’s will need to work alongside the school’s Student Representative Council to solve these issues and restore the sense of pride in Lennoxville’s student body.
With regards to Mackey’s departure Associate Athletic Director Joey Sabo’s quote from the school’s press release said
“Kevin's hard work and dedication over the last nine years first as an assistant then as head coach of the Bishop's Gaiters football team was unparalleled and extremely appreciated. We wish him all the best in his future endeavours. We will start the process immediately to find the next head coach of our storied football program."
Expected internal candidates being considered to fill the vacancy include current coordinators Marc Loranger and Brent Bailey.
Loranger was previously head coach for the Mount Allison Mounties that won the Vanier Cup in 1991. As well as the Gaiters’ Defensive and Recruiting Coordinator from 2000-2006.
Bailey has been the team’s Offensive Coordinator since 2013 after initially joining as a receiver’s coach in 2010.