Last week the Ontario University Athletics (OUA) football conference announced its major award winners and Laurierโs manager of football operations and head coach Gary Jeffries and defensive co-ordinator and linebackersโ coach Ron Van Moerkerke were both recognized.
Jeffries took home the Dave โTuffyโ Knight award as the OUA coach of the year โ named after the Laurier coaching legend โ while Van Moerkerke was named the provinceโs volunteer coach of the year.
โIt came as a huge surprise,โ said Jeffries. โItโs not something Iโve ever thought of at all, and Iโm really just thrilled about how it reflects on the team.โ
This award marks fourth time Jeffries has been named OUA coach of the year since becoming the Hawksโ head coach just six years ago, with the others coming in 2003, 2004 and 2005. He also came away with the Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) coach of the year award in 2003, his first season as Laurierโs head coach.
Despite his accolades, Jeffries remains modest, recognizing the many individuals who contribute to the teamโs success.
โ[The award] is really representative of the work of about 130 people,โ he said. โEveryone involved with our team does an incredible job and Iโm really just accepting the award on their behalf. Itโs really the ultimate team award.โ
This season, Jeffries guided the Hawks to a 6-2 record, finishing second in the OUA despite a turbulent season that saw numerous injuries on both sides of the ball, including losing starting quarterback Luke Thompson for the season in week three.
โThis season definitely had some times when we couldโve gotten down on ourselves, but we always rebounded,โ said Jeffries. โThe main thing was to stay positive and continue to believe in ourselves and what we do.โ
Van Moerkerke, meanwhile, was recognized for his work running the Hawksโ outstanding defence, which ranked near the top of the OUA in every defensive statistical category and boasted seven of the teamโs 10 provincial all-stars.
โItโs tremendous to see because heโs done such a wonderful job here for a long period of time,โ said Jeffries of Van Moerkerke. โTo finally see him recognized for it is extremely special.โ
Van Moerkerke, who is in his 11th season coaching with the Hawks โ sixth as defensive co-ordinatorโ works full-time as a teacher at Kitchenerโs Eastwood Collegiate high school and volunteers his time to work with Laurierโs football team.