Upon receiving the news that Dan McCullough would be stepping back from the Head Coach position, the Club Board appointed a Search Committee consisting of Club President Michele Richardson, Club General Manager, John Morse and Club Secretary, Justin Wies. The Committee created a public posting on various sector websites and social media platforms calling for applicants to fill the Head Coach position with a two-week application period.
Following the search and interview process, the UNB Red Bombers are pleased to announce Coach Vince Sturgeon has been selected to replace Coach McCullough as the Head Coach of the UNB Red Bombers.
Coach Sturgeon, a UNB Alumni, has been one of the cornerstones of New Brunswick Football. In addition to his High School Head Coaching experience, Vince has been the offensive coordinator of the Red Bombers for the past four years. Besides his time with the Bombers, Coach Sturgeon has 15 years of coaching experience including leading elite provincial teams. Speaking about his time with the Red Bombers as OC and working with Coach McCullough, Coach Sturgeon said “I want to continue to build upon the structures that Dan McCullough has put into place over the past four years. We want to create an environment that brings out the best in our student athletes and provides them with an opportunity to continue to develop as football players.“
Along with his extensive NCCP credentials including training other coaches as a learning facilitator, Coach Sturgeon is highly regarded in the New Brunswick and Atlantic Canada football community. For the future of the Bombers, Vince envisions multi-pronged recruitment efforts at the University as well as among young up and coming players in the New Brunswick system, leveraging his extensive connections in that community. “We want to have UNB Football play a larger role in the local football community by offering camps and clinics to local minor players and coaches. We want to have younger players aspire to play for the Bombers and have Bomber players give back to the football community. We recognize the importance of helping to build strong minor and high school programs that will provide future UNB football student athletes.” Coach Sturgeon said.
With respect to program development and culture, Coach Sturgeon plans to strengthen the structure by building relationships between the Red Bombers and local football resources such as the municipal football associations, high school teams and community members from among supporters, players and coaches to propel the Red Bombers “brand”. Vince summed up his thoughts by saying, “We want to maintain the tradition of UNB Football being a large part of the fall in Fredericton. By building a program that attracts high caliber coaches and players, a team that will compete each year for the Moosehead Cup and provide entertaining football afternoons for UNB students, alumni and the local community.”
As the team prepares to celebrate their 10th anniversary in the Atlantic Football League in 2019 with the biggest Homecoming player reunion yet, the Players and Board are delighted that Coach Sturgeon has chosen to lead the UNB Red Bombers into the future.
A Team Worth Supporting
You can support the team by visiting https://donations.helpforcharities.com/unbdonation/?dept_id=redbombers and make a donation under the ‘project’ drop-down box and selecting “Red Bombers Football Club”, or call (506) 458-7594