Veteran CFL coach Marcel Bellefeuille has been named offensive coordinator at Queen’s University.
Bellefeuille began his coaching career at the Canadian university level as an assistant then rising to head coach at the University of Ottawa where he guided the Gee-Gees to a Vanier Cup in 2000. After that, he jumped to the CFL.
“I am looking forward to joining Coach Sheahan and the Queen’s football program for the 2018 season. It is an honour to be part of such a rich tradition of both academia and football history,” said Marcel Bellefeuille said in a statement.
Saskatchewan hired the Ottawa, ON native where he worked from 2001-2005 as running backs than receivers coach and elevated to offensive coordinator for three seasons. He went to Montreal as the Als’ running backs and receivers coach in 2006 and took offensive coordinator duties in 2007. Hamilton hired him for the same position in 2008 and Bellefeuille became head coach midway through that season.
He led the Hamilton Tiger-Cats for three seasons from 2009-2011. That was a rebuild: he took over a team that won 17 games over the previous three seasons and led the Ticats to three straight playoff appearances, including the East Final in 2011. A 1-3 post-season record ultimately led to Bellefeuille being let go by the Tabbies, but he left the organization in a much better place than it was found.
Bellefeuille did some professional development with his year of paid vacation after being fired by the Ticats before a three-year stint as the offensive coordinator in Winnipeg. Then to the Lions, where he was for the last two seasons.
“We are excited to add such an experienced and quality leader in Marcel to the Queen’s football family,” said head coach Pat Sheahan said in a statement. “He brings a wealth of offensive experience from the CFL as both a head coach and assistant and his vision and football IQ will be a great benefit to our student-athletes.”
Queen’s lost former Riders head coach Greg Marshall to the University of Toronto earlier this year so Bellefeuille fills that void.
