Thursday, February 26, 2015

BURNABY, BC – Former BC Lions assistant coach Kelly Bates has been named head coach of the Simon Fraser University football program. Bates, 39, joins SFU after three seasons as a position coach and Canadian Draft coordinator with the  Lions.
 
A native of Humboldt, Sask., now living in Coquitlam, BC, Bates is the 10th head coach in the history of the SFU football program.
 
Following an 11-year Canadian Football League career, eight of those with the BC Lions, Bates joined the Lions as running backs coach on Mike Benevides staff and became the team's Canadian Draft coordinator.
 
"Kelly brings over 14 years of experience at the highest level but more importantly his values align with the vision we have for the football program," said Dr. Milton Richards, Senior Director of Athletics and Recreation said. "Kelly has tremendous integrity and character, and these are the values that we want to surround our student-athletes with and make him ideally suited to lead our football program."
 
Bates has been preparing for his first head coaching opportunity for over a decade, spending each off-season since 2002 as a guest coach with his alma mater, the University of Saskatchewan Huskies football program. He also spent the 2009 season as an assistant coach with the Huskies.
 
"I am humbled by the opportunity to lead such a prestigious football program and my goal is to honour our alumni, fans, and university community by positively impacting the lives of our student-athletes on the field, in the classroom and in the community," said Bates.

 "We are going to make the values that Mr. Davies instilled in this program meaningful once again and we are going to become competitive in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference."
 
Simon Fraser is Canada's only university competing in NCAA where student-athletes get access to the NCAA athletic experience and a Canadian education.
 
Lorne Davies was the first athletic director and football coach at SFU in 1965, and coached the football program for its first eight years, compiling a 34-21-1 record and .616 winning percentage.

Davies chose the original Clan colours blue, red, and white, and often told audiences that blue represented Loyalty, red for Courage, and white for Integrity. Davies is currently is battling health issues.
 
"Kelly is a young coach who is very passionate about the game of football," said Wally Buono, general manager and vice president of football operations, for the BC Lions. "He brings a positive, upbeat mindset and will be a great teacher. I'm excited about SFU football."
 
An offensive guard during his playing days, Bates was named a Canadian Football League all-star in 2007. He won a Grey Cup with the Lions in 2006.
 
"Kelly is a man of integrity and I'm sure he will do the football program proud," said SFU alumnus and former BC Lion Lui Passaglia. "He has always been hard working, organized, and prepared and I believe he will have a big impact on the program."
 
Bates replaces Jacques Chapdelaine, who left the university to become offensive coordinator of the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the CFL. Chapdelaine coached the Clan to a 2-9 record in 2014, his only season as head coach at SFU.
 
Bates played for the University of Saskatchewan Huskies from 1997-2001, winning the Vanier Cup in 1998. He was named team captain his senior season and was drafted in the fourth round (32nd overall) in the 2001 CFL Draft by the Lions.
 
Bates has operated the Kelly Bates Football Camp, the most successful independent high school level football camp in Saskatchewan, for almost a decade. He has also coached at the high school level with Hugh Boyd Secondary in Richmond BC (2006-2008), White Rock/South Surrey Community Football in Surrey, BC (2003-2005), Evan Hardy Collegiate in Saskatoon (1995). Bates also coached the Football Saskatchewan High School Senior Bowl in Saskatoon from 1996-2005.
 
Bates earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Kinesiology and a Bachelor of Education from the University of Saskatchewan. Bates and his wife, Nadine Power, have two daughters, Nyah, 4, and Annie, 2.
 
Bates is expected to formulate his coaching staff in the upcoming weeks. The Clan will begin spring training camp on March 12.