Football Canada has hired former York Lions head coach Warren Craney to lead the Men’s Junior National Team for the second time in his career, the organization announced on Friday.
Craney will take over the role of head coach from Saint Mary’s Huskies bench boss Steve Sumarah, who led Canada to a gold medal at the 2018 IFAF World Junior Championships in Mexico City. Acadia Axemen head coach Jeff Cummins also will not return as defensive coordinator.
“It is with great pride that I accept the honour of being named the Team Canada Head
Football Coach for the U20 team for the second time in my career,” Craney said in a statement. “Having served in this role before and working closely with Coach Steve Sumarah, I anticipate a seamless transition as we prepare for the 2024 tournament in Edmonton.”
Craney previously served as head coach of the junior national team for two IFAF World Junior Championships, claiming a silver medal in Kuwait in 2014 and winning gold in Harbin, China in 2016. He also served as defensive coordinator under Noel Thorpe for Canada’s first-ever gold medal win in Austin, Tex. in 2012.
The native of Kirkland, Que. is best known for his tenure as head coach of York University, which lasted from 2010 until 2022. He posted a 14-80 record over that span, failing to make a single playoff appearance.
Prior to his time at York, Craney served as the defensive coordinator for the Concordia Stingers for seven seasons and defensive line coach for three before that.
“Warren Craney’s experience and past successes make him the natural choice to lead our
team as we strive to defend our championships on home soil this June,” Football Canada president Jim Mullin said as part of the announcement.
Canada is scheduled to host the 2024 IFAF World Junior Championship in Edmonton, Alta. from June 20th to 30th, the first such event since before the pandemic. Craney will have a chance to lead the team to an unprecedented third consecutive gold medal while facing off against Mexico, the United States, Austria, Japan, Australia, and Sweden. The final qualifying team will be decided later this month in a game between Brazil and Panama.
