Bishop's Gaiters - Football

Football

It wasn't until the early 60's that Principal Ogden Glass gave the University the direction Athletics needed to provide the necessary moral and financial support that ultimately shaped the modern day success of the Gaiters football program. Principal Glass hired Bruce Coulter as Director of Athletics and Head Football Coach in 1961. This hiring would help Bishop's develop a full fledged athletic program with teams that could compete on the senior intercollegiate level. Bruce retired as head football coach with a CIAU-record 137 wins (his record was 137 wins, 80 losses and 3 ties). In 1991, the football stadium was renamed in his honor and the Gaiters now play on Coulter Field.

The Bishop's football team competes for two special trophies: The Mayor's Cup, which is awarded to the winner of one of the annual contests between Bishop's and the Université de Sherbrooke, and the Bigg Bowl, which goes to the winner between Bishop's and St. Francis Xavier University (currently scheduled once every three years). In 2007 Bishop’s Gaiters running back Jamall Lee and head coach Leroy Blugh were honoured as major award winners by the Quebec University Football League. Lee was awarded the Jeff Russel Trophy, given to the league’s most outstanding player, while Blugh was named QUFL Coach of the Year.

The Gaiters were led by head coach Leroy Blugh, a former linebacker for the Gaiters as well as a 15-year veteran of the Canadian Football League until he left the post in June 2011. Under Blugh, the program saw a marked improvement, finishing with a winning record in 2007 for the first time since 1995, as well as having several players drafted in the CFL. Former athletic director, Tony Addona, coached for the team in 2011 after Blugh resigned as head coach until current head coach Kevin Mackey was hired on January 16, 2011.