Wilfrid Laurier University has a head coach opening after the Golden Hawks former bench boss Michael Faulds left to join his alma mater, Western University.
2024 Hec Crighton winner, quarterback Taylor Elgersma voiced his opinion on the move via his X account: “Beat them so badly they had to poach our coach.” The 23-year-old is likely referring to Laurier beating Western 43-28 during the 2024 OUA regular season, 51-31 in the 116th Yates Cup when he was the starter and successor Cal Wither leading a 60-13 beatdown in the final OUA regular-season week last year.
Regardless what opinions are out there about Faulds leaving for Western, WLU has a vacancy to fill. The Golden Hawks have had six head coaches in the football program’s 65-year history: Bob Celeri, David “Tuffy” Knight, Rich Newbrough, Rick Zmich, Gary Jeffries, and Faulds. That means the athletic department will be looking for a long-term answer.
When Faulds was hired in 2013, his coaching resume had three years as York University’s offensive coordinator and that’s it. Laurier took a chance on the Eden Mills, Ont. native, but there were many in U Sports football circles who felt he would be a great head coach. Although, he had no previous ties to the Golden Hawks other than competing against WLU on the field.
It seems as though alumni around Laurier would like a person who has purple and gold connections as the program’s new head coach. That brings us to the candidates for the job.
Photo courtesy: Laurier Athletics/Christian Bender.
Ron VanMoerkerke — associate head coach, defensive coordinator and defensive line coach, Wilfrid Laurier University
VanMoerkerke played linebacker for the Golden Hawks in the late 1980s. He won a Yates Cup as a player in 1987 and earned first-team OUA all-star honours in 1989, along with being named team MVP.
The longtime Waterloo Region District School Board teacher has coached with Laurier for over 20 years and would provide a smooth transition. He bleeds purple and gold, evidenced by his 2009 OUA football Volunteer Coach of the Year award, while helping develop lots of CFL talent, including Kwaku Boateng, Robbie Smith and Luke Brubacher.
The Guelph native has won four Yates Cups (2004, 2005, 2016 and 2024) and a Vanier Cup (2005) as a coach with the Golden Hawks.
Photo courtesy: Laurier Athletics/Christian Bender.
Todd Galloway — offensive coordinator, student-athlete development and receivers coach, Wilfrid Laurier University
The Kitchener, Ont. native played receiver for the Golden Hawks from 2000 through 2003. He started his coaching career with WLU in 2004 as the team’s receivers coach and won a Vanier Cup on the coaching staff in 2005.
Galloway has been in his current roles with the program since 2020. He played an integral part in developing Elgersma from a little known recruit to the best player in Canadian university football. That tutelage was critical as the strong-armed passer gained NFL attention.
The 44-year-old helped transfer QB Cal Wither quickly become comfortable in Laurier’s offensive scheme during his first year with the Golden Hawks. Wither led the country with 26 touchdown passes compared to four interceptions while completing 72.7 percent of his passes for 2,472 yards in eight OUA regular season games in 2025.
Similar to VanMoerkerke, elevating Galloway to the head coach position could give stability through a time of transition. He went 5-3 and guided the Guelph Gryphons to a Yates Cup appearance in 2018 as interim head coach.
Photo courtesy: Bob Butrym/RFB Sport Photography
Stefan Ptaszek — head coach, McMaster University
Until 2025 Hec Crighton winner Ethan Jordan came along, Ptaszek was Laurier’s all-time leader in receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns. He was a three-time All-Canadian pass catcher and helped the Golden Hawks win the 1991 Vanier Cup, which was the first in school history. The Burlington, Ont. native was the team’s offensive coordinator in 2005 as Laurier won its second national championship.
Ptaszek has been head coach at McMaster University for 16 seasons. He led the Marauders to the team’s first Vanier Cup win in 2011, while claiming four Yates Cups in his time in Hamilton. The 54-year-old’s a proven winner with an 81-45 regular season record.
Mark Surya — head coach, University of Guelph
Surya won a Vanier Cup with Queen’s University in 2009 as a receiver, then finished his playing career with two seasons at Laurier. He was the Golden Hawks offensive coordinator from 2013 through 2016, calling plays as the team won the Yates Cup in his last year there.
The 37-year-old has a 9-7 regular season record with the Gryphons in his first two seasons as bench boss.
Photo courtesy: Bob Butrym/RFB Sport Photography
Corey Grant — head coach, Carleton University
From 1995 through 1998, Grant was a standout receiver for the Golden Hawks. He was selected in the first round, seventh overall during the 1999 CFL Draft. The Stoney Creek, Ont. native won two Grey Cups, one with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in 1999 and the other with the Saskatchewan Roughriders in 2007.
The 49-year-old has been the Carleton Ravens head coach since 2022 and compiled a 14-18 regular season record.
Kevin MacNeill — associate head coach, defensive coordinator, recruiting coordinator, University of Waterloo
MacNeill was a star linebacker for Wilfrid Laurier from 1999 through 2003. He was a two-time OUA all-star, one-time All-Canadian, and earned team MVP honours in 2001.
The London, Ont. native started his coaching career with the Golden Hawks in 2005 when the team won the Vanier Cup. He produced an 11-11 regular season record as the Guelph Gryphons head coach from 2016 through 2018 record and currently holds associate head coach, defensive coordinator and recruiting coordinator titles with the Warriors.
Photo: Michael Scraper/3DownNation. All rights reserved.
Dwayne Cameron — director of Canadian scouting, United States scout, Calgary Stampeders
It’s unknown if the Guelph, Ont. native would leave the CFL ranks, however Laurier’s the only U Sports program he’s ever known. He was defensive backs coach along with strength and conditioning coordinator from 2004 through 2009, then came back as a special teams coordinator, defensive backs coach and recruiting coordinator from 2013 through 2019.
Cameron has won three Yates Cups and one Vanier Cup during his time with the Golden Hawks.
