Football

Kevin Mackey - Western '03
Head Coach (1st year, 6th year overall at Bishop's)

Kevin Mackey was named the ninth head coach of the Gaiters in the modern era on January 16, 2012

A native of Ascot Corner, Que. and long-time resident of the Eastern Townships, Mackey joined the Gaiters in 2007 as Defensive Backs coach. His responsibilities steadily increased over his time at Bishop's, and he was promoted to Special Teams Coordinator in 2011 before his appointment as Head Coach for the 2012 season.

Prior to joining Bishop's, Mackey spent three years with the Champlain Cougars, coaching their defensive backs in 2003 and 2005 before being promoted to Defensive Coordinator in 2006. The Cougars advanced to two Bol d'Or provincial finals in his three seasons there.

Mackey, 32, played in 2004 with the Gaiters, making 29.5 tackles and one sack in eight games, and was named the team's Defensive Player of the Year.

Mackey spent 1999-2002 as a defensive back with the University of Western Ontario Mustangs, playing under legendary coach Larry Haylor. Mackey earned a "Bronze W" as a three-year starter for the Mustangs, and graduated with a B.A. in Psychology in 2003.

Mackey played Cégep football with the Champlain Cougars from 1996-98, advancing to the Bol d'Or final in 1996, and winning the Don Bilodeau Trophy for dedication and commitment in 1998.

Mackey currently serves as a Councillor for the Municipality of Ascot Corner, after being elected to the post in 2009, and is the Chair of the municipality's Recreation Committee.

Joey Sabo - Bishop's '94
Position: Running Backs and Special Teams Assistant
Bishop’s: 17th year

After a stellar five-year career with the Gaiters, Joey Sabo joined the coaching staff as an Offensive Line Assistant in 1994, and became Offensive Line Coach in 1995. After a stint as Running Backs Coach, Sabo has returned to coaching the Gaiters’ offensive line and assisting on special teams. Altogether, Sabo has been a part of the Gaiter Football program for over 20 years. The Laval, Que., native became the Department’s Athletic Coordinator in 2000, and was promoted to Assistant Athletic Director in 2008.

Javier Rivera - Bishop's '06
Position: Receivers
Bishop's: 2nd year

Javier Rivera joined the Gaiters in 2010 as Receivers Coach. He played for five years with the Gaiters, from 2001-05 as a receiver and kick returner. The San Salvador, El Salvador native spent the past two seasons as Offensive Coordinator of the Du Phare High School Patriotes, and was named Coach of the Year in 2009.

Éric Joly
Strength & Conditioning Coach
Bishop's: 2nd year

Éric Joly joined the Gaiters as strength and conditioning coach in January 2010. The Sherbrooke native was a defensive lineman for the Gaiters in 1992 before his career was cut short by an injury. He walked on at the University of Houston, and eventually earned a scholarship. He opened Houston Strength and Conditioning in 2000, and now operates Staxx Performance, a company dedicated to athlete development that manages approximately 1,000 athletes across a variety of sports.

Daniel Paquette
Position: Kicking Coach
Bishop's: 3rd year

Daniel Paquette joined the Gaiters in 2010 as Kicking coach. He has performed the same role for the Cégep de Sherbrooke Volontaires from 2007-09, winning three Bol d’Or titles. The Magog native has also served as defensive backs and kicking coach for his hometown École Secondaire de la Ruche, and was the head coach of their championship Cadet A team in Spring 2010.

Ian Breck – Springfield '70
Position: Defensive Line Coach
Bishop's: 1st year (17th overall)

Ian Breck rejoins the Gaiters in 2011, after a 12-year absence, to coach the defensive line. Breck won three Dunsmore Cups during his 11-year stint as the Gaiters' head coach in the 1980s and 90s, posting an overall record of 53-36-2 and being named CIAU Coach of the Year in 1992. He previously served as Head Coach of Champlain College, winning two Bol d'Ors in five seasons with the Cougars. Breck was also the first head coach of Team Canada, serving from 2000-03, winning a gold medal at the 2000 Global Junior Football Championship.

Corey Sly
Position: Defensive Assistant
Bishop's: 2nd year

Corey Sly joined the Gaiters in 2010 as an offensive assistant, and will move over to assist the linebackers in 2011. The native Montrealer enjoyed a long playing career in the North Shore organization, and was a league all-star in 2005. He was an assistant coach with the North Shore Mustangs in 2007 and 2008, and spent 2009 with John Abbott College.

Jesse Andrews
Position: Offensive Assistant
Bishop's: 1st year

Jesse Andrews was a five-year starter at quarterback for the Gaiters, from 2006-10. When he graduated, the Pickering, Ontario native held every major school career passing record, including being the first 6,000-yard passer in Gaiter history, and was the Bishop's University co-Male Athlete of the Year for 2010-11. Andrews joins the coaching staff in 2011 as an Offensive Assistant.

Steve Etcheverry - Bishop's '77
Position: Special Teams Assistant
Bishop's: 4th year

One of two members of the Etcheverry family to attend Bishop’s, Steve had a five-year playing career at tight end with the Gaiters in the 1970s. He is currently in his fourth year with the Gaiters and will serve as a special teams assistant. He previously coached high school football in the Calgary area for the past 27 years.

Team Staff

Bill Rourke - Bishop's '68
Assistant Manager

Bill Rourke enters his 12th season as a member of the Gaiters' staff. Rourke has been a mainstay at Bishop's home games for 40 years. Prior to joining the team staff in 2000, he was the official timer for Gaiters’ home football games from the stadium’s opening in 1971 until 1999, part of a 25-year football officiating career. He won the Ray Almond Award in 2010 for his countless hours of service to Bishop's Athletics.

Earl Elson
Assistant to the Manager

Earl Elson is entering his first season with the Gaiters. He has served as an assistant coach for Alexander Galt Regional High School, and has served as a videographer for both the Gaiters and the Champlain Cougars. Elson is currently employed as a bus driver by the Eastern Townships School Board.

Thomas Barton
Video Coordinator

Thomas Barton has been a videographer for the Gaiters since 2000, and was named Video Coordinator in 2007. He is responsible for handling the team’s video recording and editing, and has also acted as the primary statistician for Champlain College. He currently lives in St-Elie-d'Orford.

Medical Staff

Stephen King
Head Athletic Therapist

Stephen King is in his 32nd season at Bishop’s. The Mississauga, Ontario native is the Head Therapist for the football Gaiters, as well as the President of Physio Sports Med King – who currently operate the Bishop’s Sports Medicine Centre. King also has a wide variety of international experience, including having served as the Head Athletic Therapist for Team Canada at the last two Olympic Games.

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Nathan King
Athletic Therapist
Bishop's: 5th year

Nathan King is going into his fifth season as the Gaiters’ Therapist. A native of Lennoxville, King is a graduate of Bishop’s with a B.Sc. and received a Masters in Physical Therapy from the University of Western Ontario.

Becky Haist
Athletic Therapist

Becky Haist is going into her fourth year with the Gaiters. The Mississauga, Ontario native studied Kinesiology at the University of Western Ontario, where she graduated in 2008. Haist also coordinates the Athletes in Action group at Bishop's.

Nina Bensity
Athletic Therapist

Nina Benisty is going into her third year with the Gaiter football team. The Montreal native had previously served for a year with the Gaiter rugby teams. Benisty studied Athletic Therapy at Concordia University, graduating in 2009.