Craney named York Lions head coach

TORONTO - York University Sport & Recreation announced on Monday (May 10) that Warren Craney has been named the head coach of the Lions football team.

Craney is the ninth coach in program history. He comes to York from Concordia University, where he spent the past seven seasons as the defensive co-ordinator and three before that as the defensive line coach. Since 2000, the Stingers have been a perennial top 10 team and the defence has been near the top of Quebec and Canadian statistical charts.

Under his guidance on defence, Craney’s student-athletes have won four of the last six Presidents’ Trophies, awarded to the nation’s top defensive player, and one J.P. Metras Trophy as the top down lineman in the CIS. In addition, 13 first-team all-Canadian awards have been given to defensive players under his direction.

“Having a head coach of Warren’s calibre is a tremendous asset to the York football program,” said Jennifer Myers, director of Sport & Recreation at York. “He is widely respected in the Canadian football community and brings with him a strong recruiting network in both Ontario and Quebec. I am excited about his long-term vision for the success of the Lions program and I look forward to working with him to build a championship culture here at York.”

As he helped guide the Stingers to success at the CIS level, Craney was also selected as a coach for a number of provincial and national teams. Most recently, he was the defensive co-ordinator for Team World at USA Football’s “Team USA vs. The World” game in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., in January, for Team Canada at the 2009 Junior World Championship in Canton, Ohio last summer and for Team East at the 2009 CIS East West Bowl.

A native of Montreal, Craney joined Concordia’s coaching staff after a three-year stint as the defensive co-ordinator at Vanier College. Throughout his coaching career, which has spanned nearly two decades, he has also served as a guest coach at the University of Michigan Football School and the University of Nebraska in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and with several teams in the Canadian Football League (CFL).

“Although saddened to leave the Stingers, I am grateful to York University for this opportunity to take my coaching career to the next level,” said Craney. “Jennifer has made it very clear to me that I have the full support of the University in the future development of the football program. I look forward to joining the York family and the exciting challenges that lie ahead. The upcoming seasons will be an amazing time for both myself and the York Lions.”

Craney begins as head coach of the York football program on Monday, May 17 and can be reached at 416-736-2100 ext. 22902.

The Lions will kick-off the season with training camp in August. The 2010 regular season will get underway on Monday, Sept. 6 with a road game against the Guelph Gryphons. The home opener is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 11 at York Stadium, when the Lions will play host to the Ottawa Gee-Gees.