The University of Manitoba Bisons could be in the midst of a Canada West playoff run next month while school administrators are vetting candidates to replace Brian Dobie as the football program’s next head coach.
The deadline for applications is Nov. 4 for a position likely to draw a number of qualified candidates from across the country.
The 71-year-old Dobie announced in August the 2024 season will be his last after 29 years on the job.
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Stan Pierre has been a coach with the Bisons since 1998.
The Bisons host the UBC Thunderbirds Saturday in a crucial regular-season finale to determine first place in the Canada West Universities Athletic Association.
Manitoba last won the national championship in 2007.
Current Bisons defensive co-ordinator Stan Pierre confirmed he is planning to apply before the deadline while former CFL head coach Paul LaPolice, widely rumoured to be in the running, told the Free Press this week he is not pursuing the job.
La Police, a 54-year-old product of Nashua, N.H., has more than two decades of coaching experience in the CFL, including two stints at head coach (Winnipeg Blue Bombers, 2010-12 and Ottawa Redblacks, 2020-22).
He has been working as an analyst for TSN since being fired by the Redblacks on Oct. 1, 2022.
Pierre, meanwhile, is currently in his 26th season with the program and is likely to be considered a front-runner for the position.
“I’m sure there’s gonna be a lot of applicants,” said Pierre, 53. “We’ll see what happens.”
Pierre began as a linebackers coach with the Bisons in 1998 and was promoted to defensive co-ordinator the following year. He added the title of assistant head coach in 2005.
“I’m not going to comment on what they’re looking for in terms of head of coach, but I think I’m going to be a strong candidate,” said Pierre.
Two other former U of M players — Stacy Dainard and Mitchell Harrison — would almost certainly be strong candidates for the position should they apply.
Dainard, who has served as head coach of the St. Paul’s Crusaders since 2002, has helped to build St. Paul’s into a high school football powerhouse.
On Wednesday, he politely declined to reveal if he would be applying for the U of M post.
“I’ve had a few people ask me that and it’s certainly flattering to think about and to have those people ask me about it but at this point we play a high school playoff game (Thursday quarter-final against the Springfield Sabres, 5:15 p.m. at Prince Auto Stadium) and that’s where my focus and energy is right now,” said Dainard, who had his Bisons playing career (1988-90) curtailed by three knee surgeries.
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Stacy Dainard, who has served as head coach of the St. Paul’s Crusaders since 2002, would be one of several strong candidates for the Bisons’ position should he apply.
“Coach Dobie has done a great job there and I’m sure it’s a position that would attract a lot of interest. To me, the front of the line would start with coach Pierre, the defensive co-ordinator, if he chose to apply.”
Most recently, Dainard has coached St. Paul’s to ANAVETs Bowl titles as AAAA champs in 2022, 2019, 2017 and 2016.
Harrison, the 32-year-old head coach at Dakota Collegiate, should also be a top contender for the vacancy.
Harrison, who guided the Lancers to the 2023 Winnipeg High School Football League AAAA title, was a defensive back and linebacker with the Bisons for five seasons before graduating in 2015.
He began his high school coaching career at Sisler, serving as the defensive co-ordinator of the Spartans for three seasons, before moving to Dakota in 2019.
The Lancers are currently atop the WHSFL Southeast Division standings with a 7-0 record, having outscored their opponents 332-8. They take on the Steinbach Sabres in AAAA quarter-final action on Friday 7:30 p.m. at Prince Auto Stadium.
Current Bisons assistant coach Sean Oleksewycz, in his sixth year with the program, is one of three salaried coaches on the U of M staff but said he won’t be a candidate for head coach.
“I am not interested in that position,” said Oleksewycz, who coaches defensive backs and special teams while also serving as recruiting co-ordinator. “My job is split between Football Manitoba and the Bisons football program. I love what I do here.”
— with files from Jeff Hamilton
Mike Sawatzky
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