Gibson announces Rams coaching staff hires

REGINA, Sask. – University of Regina Rams head coach MikeGibson announced Thursday the addition of eight assistant coachesto his staff, including longtime defensive coordinator Paul Dawsonreturning in that same role.

Also retained from last year’s staff will be Steve Hanson(offensive line), Dwayne Masson (running backs), Sheldon Neald(offensive line), and Alex Smith (special teams coordinator). GregNesbitt (defensive line) returns to the Rams after a season offfrom coaching last year, while newcomers Sheldon Gray (defensivebacks) and Nathan Hoffart (wide receivers) also join the staff.

“I’m extremely excited at the group of coaches thatwe’ve put together,” said Gibson, who was named theteam’s head coach in January. “We’ve got guys whohave been here before and know the lay of the land, and we’vegot new guys who will be great coaches and are excited to be a partof this program. They’ve already got a great rapport and goodchemistry as a group and I’m hopeful that they’ll behere for a long time.”

Dawson, who has served as the Rams’ defensive coordinatorsince 2001, has also been a teacher at Dr. Martin LeBoldus HighSchool in Regina but will now coach on a full-time basis.He’s overseen a Rams defence that has not only produced NFLlinemen Stefan Charles and Akiem Hicks over the past few seasons,but also has had a total of seven different players earn first-teamAll-Canadian status during Dawson’s tenure. Dawson alsocoached linebacker Mat Nesbitt, the 2007 CIS Defensive Player ofthe Year.

Greg Nesbitt had been a defensive line coach with the Rams for12 years – including as the position coach for both Charlesand Hicks – and returns to the staff after not coaching in2014. Gray comes over to the Rams from the Regina Thunder, where hespent 2012 and 2013 as an assistant. He also has coachingexperience at the provincial level and with both LeBoldus andMiller Comprehensive High School in Regina. Gray is no stranger tothe Rams, having played for the U of R in each of its first fiveseasons at the CIS level – his 83-yard interception return inhis second season stood as a school record for almost a decadebefore it was finally broken.

Smith returns for his second season as the team’s specialteams coordinator. Prior to joining the Rams in 2013 he had coachedwith the Saskatchewan Roughriders for 16 seasons, mostly as alinebackers and special teams coach.

Hanson and Neald return to guide an offensive line that couldreturn all five starters from the 2014 season. Hanson joined thestaff prior to last year after starting for the Rams at right guardfrom 2009 to 2012, while Neald will return for his sixth season asan offensive line coach with the U of R. Masson returns for histhird season as the team’s running backs coach afterconsiderable time coaching at both the junior level and the highschool level.

Hoffart joins the staff as a receivers coach after serving inthe same role at Miller. He attended the University of Saskatchewanand played for the Huskies before being drafted in the first roundby the Roughriders in 2005. Hoffart suited up for both Saskatchewanand Toronto during his CFL career, which finished after playingwith the Argonauts in 2008.

Gibson expects to name an offensive coordinator before theteam’s spring camp, which is scheduled for April 24 throughApril 26 at the U of R Field.

2015University of Regina Rams CoachingStaff
Head Coach – Mike Gibson
Offensive Coordinator & Quarterbacks Coach – TBA
Defensive Coordinator & Linebackers Coach – PaulDawson
Defensive Backs Coach – Sheldon Gray
Running Backs Coach – Dwayne Masson
Offensive Line Coach – Steve Hanson
Special Teams Coordinator – Alex Smith
Receivers Coach – Nathan Hoffart
Offensive Line Coach – Sheldon Neald
Defensive Line Coach – Greg Nesbitt

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