Ptaszek named CIS coach of the year

CIS: All Canadian Awards Banquet

Charismatic football coach Stefan Ptaszek (left) was presented with the Frank Tindall Trophy on Wednesday as CIS coach of the year. Only one trophy remains on Ptaszek's radar this year, the Vanier Cup.


Stefan Ptaszek can add another piece of hardware to his already well-stocked trophy cabinet.

On Wednesday evening, the head coach of the Marauders football team was honoured with the Frank Tindall Trophy as CIS coach of the year. Ptaszek received the award at the AMJ Campbell All-Canadian Awards Banquet at Ontario Place – part of the week-long Vanier Cup celebrations taking place in Toronto. The 41-year-old was quoted in the Globe and Mail regarding his commitment to young student athletes.

“My passion isn’t necessarily for coaching football, it’s for working with young people, focused and motivated young people,” Ptaszek said Wednesday. “That’s why I went to teachers’ college, that’s why I’m here.”

Renowned for his fiery motivational speeches and attention to detail, the stalwart bench boss joined the Marauders football team in 2006, and helped guide the team to their first national title five years later. To date, the team has won a record-breaking 21 consecutive games. A win over Laval in Friday’s Vanier Cup would secure number 22.

Ptaszek joins Greg Marshall and Bernie Custis as the only coaches in Marauder football history to win the Frank Tindall Trophy.

Three Marauder players are also up for CIS awards at the Gibson’s Finest Player Awards, slated for Thursday night at Koerner Hall. QB phenom Kyle Quinlan is in the running for the Hec Crighton Trophy, which recognizes the most outstanding collegiate football player in the country. Only four Marauders have taken home the prize in its 45-year history (Phil Scarfone, Kojo Aidoo, Ben Chapdelaine and Jesse Lumsden).

McMaster linebacker Aram Eisho (defensive player of the year), and defensive end Ben D’Aguilar (outstanding down lineman) are also up for national awards at Thursday’s event.

Tickets are still available for the Vanier Cup, which features a much-anticipated rematch between McMaster and the Laval Rouge et Or. The Marauders won last year’s championship in Vancouver in double-overtime, when second-year kicker Tyler Crapigna split the uprights and made history.

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