Posted on Feb. 10: Marcello Campanaro to head Marauder football team

[img_inline align=”right” src=”http://padnws01.mcmaster.ca/images/Marcello-Campanaro_opt2.jpg” caption=”Marcello Campanaro”]McMaster quarterback and strength & conditioning coach Marcello Campanaro is the new head coach of the Marauder football program, four-time defending Yates Cup champions.

Campanaro takes over one of the country's most successful
university football programs and will guide the Marauders in its
quest for continued excellence on the field, in the classroom and in
community service.

The McMaster graduate, who completed his bachelor of physical education degree in 1984, worked under Greg Marshall, the head coach of the CFL's Hamilton Tiger-Cats and former McMaster head coach, for the past seven seasons. Campanaro's appointment reflects McMaster's ongoing commitment to the players and coaches who have made the Marauders a national power over the last half-decade. He will assume the reins as head coach and offensive co-ordinator, the same dual-roles held by Marshall during his time on the McMaster sideline.

Before accepting his new position at McMaster, Campanaro served as head of physical education and head coach of the Burlington M.M. Robinson Rams for 13 seasons. He led his Rams team to national number one rankings on two occasions (1992 and 1993), appearing in six Halton championship games and capturing three Halton Division I Football titles (1993, 1994 and 2001), along with two Golden Horseshoe Athletic Conference crowns. Campanaro's winning percentage at M.M. Robinson was a stellar 74 per cent (76-27). He coached 35 players who went on to play at Canadian universities (CIS), including 11 at McMaster. Five of his former players have played at NCAA colleges and six were drafted by CFL teams.

Campanaro is a three-time nominee for the CFL/NFL High School Coach
of the Year.

Over his seven years on the Marauders coaching staff, Campanaro's
commitment, leadership, intelligence and technical skill have inspired
the trust and devotion of fellow coaches and players alike.

Greg Marshall says, “coach Campanaro is ready to lead the Marauders.
Marcello has demonstrated loyalty and commitment to the program, I
know Coach Campanaro will make the team and the University proud.”

Campanaro will guide an experienced coaching staff, averaging more than seven years of service to McMaster University including three former CFL players (Jason Riley, Lou Cafazzo and Joe Sardo), and four coaches with ten or more years of coaching experience in the CIS (Mark Forsyth, Jack Frimeth, Carm Genovese and Frank Gesztesi). Joe Sardo will return for a sixth season as defensive co-ordinator of the Marauders.

McMaster defensive line coach, Lou Cafazzo, a nine-year veteran of
the CFL and an assistant coach with McMaster for the past seven
seasons, believes that Campanaro is the right man to lead the team.
Says Cafazzo, “Marcello has the respect and support of the entire
coaching staff. He was our choice to succeed Greg as head coach of
the Marauders.”

Dave Forde, a Marauder team captain, returning fifth-year senior and
OUA All-Star, echoes the feelings of the coaching staff on behalf of
the players. Forde says, “Coach Campanaro has run the off-season
strength and conditioning program since I have been here. He has
motivated our team to get bigger and stronger each year. I know
personally, he has helped me so much. I can't wait to play for Coach
next fall.”

Thirhse Quigley, director of athletics & recreation at McMaster,
recognizes that Campanaro is known throughout the football community
for the strength of his character. “Marcello brings exactly the type
of commitment to education, to the student-athletes and to winning that will make the Marauders successful for years to come. I'm proud that we have someone so skilled and someone with so much leadership ability on our current coaching staff. It speaks volumes about the quality of the whole coaching unit. I know Marcello and his coaching staff have the respect of the players and the University administration. He's going to do a great job.”

With his experience off the field in education, Campanaro brings the
ideal combination of skills to McMaster University where academic
excellence is a critical aspect of the mission.

Peter George, McMaster President and Vice-Chancellor, commented, “Marcello will ensure that the student-athletes under his leadership have the advantages of a positive learning environment combined with a winning environment. He will impress players, coaches, parents, alumni, fans and community members with his intelligence, his commitment and his abilities. This is an excellent hire for McMaster. Coach Campanaro can count on me to be cheering loudly the first time he is introduced on the field as the McMaster Marauder head coach.”

One of Campanaro's first decisions at the helm of the Marauder
football program was to hire former McMaster quarterback and current
McMaster alumni advancement staffer, Ben Chapdelaine, as a full-time
assistant coach and recruiting co-ordinator. Chapdelaine graduated from McMaster in 2001 after a stellar five-year career with the Marauders.

He was the 2001 Hec Crighton Award winner as the most outstanding
football player in the CIS. He still holds the CIS record for career
passing yards with 9,974. Chapdelaine has also provided on-air colour
commentary for The Score's broadcasts of CIS football for the past two
seasons.

Therese Quigley says, “Marcello and Ben have been a very successful
team in the past. I know that Ben will enhance the already outstanding roster of assistant coaches we have in place.”

Photo caption: Top, at today's announcement, Marcello Campanaro talks about his excitement at being appointed the new head coach of the McMaster Marauder football team. Bottom, McMaster President, and Marauder fan, Peter George congratulates Campanaro. Photo credit: Chantall Van Raay