Bison football hires first ever full-time assistant coach
Stan Pierre has rich history with the herd
Amanda Laing, Staff
Photo courtesy of Bison Sports
Stan Pierre, 34, made Manitoba university history in early June, when he has been hired as a full-time assistant coach with Bison football. He is the first assistant coach to be hired on a full-time basis by any university in the province, and while this marks a milestone here in Manitoba, the position was a matter of necessity for the Bison football program.
As the only football program in the Canada West conference without at least one full-time assistant on the payroll, the Bisons will now stand on relatively equal footing with other schools in Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS).
“Football has been, basically, behind the eight-ball. . . .The request has been there forever,” remarked Bison Athletic Director Coleen Dufresne.
Although the decision to add an assistant coach may have come from necessity, the choice of who should fill that position was based solely on merit.
“There is no coach in our program that is more respected, absolutely,” stated Bison head football coach Brian Dobie. “I would dare say that he would be the people’s choice if the players got to vote.”
Despite his popularity with the athletes, Pierre’s winning ways speak for themselves. As a volunteer assistant coach, he spent the past seven seasons coaching the Bisons. He acted as defensive coordinator and linebacker coach, propelling the defence from last place to number one in the Canada West conference, and contributing to a Vanier Cup appearance in 2001. Prior to working with the Bisons, he was also a successful coach in the Winnipeg high school ranks. In three seasons as defensive coordinator with Sturgeon Creek Collegiate he was able to take a team without a single win and transform it into a semi-final playoff contender. Pierre has also enjoyed success on the field, as a starter for five years with the Bisons, and a Canada West All-Star in 1991.
“He is highly respected by his colleagues as well,” added Dobie.
When asked about his new position, Pierre admitted that he is excited but also feels honoured and privileged to have been chosen for this role. “There were a lot of qualified guys on our staff . . . not to mention people who were qualified from other programs.”
After running, Reign Wear, his own promotional clothing business, full-time for the past eight years, Pierre notes that he will add an element of organization and planning to the Bison football program that was not available with only one coach.
“I certainly bring a contrast in style to Coach Dobie. I think it’s going to be, hopefully, very synergistic.” He will also add an element of efficiency in terms of organizing the 12 volunteer assistants’ roles, taking care of the time-consuming details of their job.
As Bison football looks to bounce back from a less than stellar 2004 (3-5) season, Pierre’s short-term goals as a coach fall directly in line with his team’s goal — to become a playoff football team and build into a national contender.
On a more personal note, he added “I just want to put my footprint on the organization, and just make things run better.” When asked about his long-term goals as a coach he confessed that he is trying not to look too far down the road.
“This is a huge step for me in my career. I’m just going to concentrate on this for now.”
