Scott Mennie will lead the Westshore Rebels next season.
While new to the job as head coach, Mennie is no stranger to the team. He has been on the coaching staff for the past six years. The past three years he’s been the defensive co-ordinator and prior to that was the special teams co-ordinator.
“As head coach I am going to worry about both sides of the ball, and recruiting. This is going to be a year-round thing,” Mennie said.
For the upcoming season the Rebels will have a significant amount of veteran players. Out of 65 players on the team up to 50 may return.
Aside from his experience coaching the team, he also played for it from 1998 to 2001.
“It gave me the opportunity to hone my skills and get a university degree and play in the CFL,” Mennie said.
Mennie played for the University of Manitoba Bisons for three seasons. He also played on the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and Montreal Alouettes for one season each.
The Rebel’s former head coach John Cardilicchia coached the team for more than 15 years, as far back as when Mennie was on the team. They also coached alongside each other.
“It gave me a different perspective on him. I didn’t realize how much went into coaching before,” Mennie said. “Now I have been able to pick his brain for the past six years. I wouldn’t be in a position to take this on if it wasn’t him that’s for sure.”
Last season the Rebels finished third in the league after losing in the semi-finals. Next season Mennie hopes to take the team to first place.
The team has yet to beat the Vancouver Island Raiders, another trend Mennie hopes to break.
The season starts in July, Mennie will be recruiting for the team across Canada, but is looking at local teams including Belmont Bulldogs and Victoria Spartans for potential players.
“I am going to try to get as many of them in Rebels’ jerseys as I can,” he said.