Our student-athletes excel in their field of play thanks to a mix of their talent, dedication and guidance from varsity coaches. In Shifting Focus, we're turning the lens from players to coaches and asking them to step away from their playbooks and talk about what inspired them to get into sports, their career highlights and what's next. First up is Ron Hilaire, the head coach of the men's football team.
How you know him: Ronald Hilaire has been heading up the men's football program since 2014. Hilaire, a fourth-round pick (27th overall) by the Calgary Stampeders in the 2008 Canadian Football League draft, played four seasons in the NCAA at the State University of New York at Buffalo (SUNY Buffalo) as a defensive lineman. Since joining McGill he's turned the defence into an elite unit. He also represented Canada on the international stage three times - in 2001, 2002 and 2003 - serving as captain twice and meriting all-tournament honors in both of his last two years representing the country.
Who was your favourite pro-athlete growing up?
"No question, Warren Sapp. I played the same position as him, wore the same number as him all the way through college, and modeled my game after his. He was the most dominant player at his position, and that's what I tried to emulate when I was on the field."
Prior to becoming a coach, what was your best sports memory?
"That's a tough one -- I won a lot of championships as a player, I was very fortunate to be on quite a few championship-caliber teams. If I had to go with one, it would probably be the title that I won at the University of Buffalo (2008 MAC Championship). They had never won before, it wasn't a winning program prior to my arrival, and to go from that to a D-1 champion was incredible. Everyone from the coaching staff on down bought in and believed, that's a particularly memorable mountain top."
What has been your best moment during your coaching career?
"I've been fortunate enough to coach a lot of very good players, whether they be NFL or CFL caliber. I'd go with two moments that stand out during my coaching career - watching Andrew Seinet-Spaulding win the J.P. Metras Trophy as the most outstanding down-lineman in Canadian collegiate football was very special for me, he's such a great guy and special player. Right up there was watching Jean-Samuel Blanc, who went on to play for the Alouettes, break the U SPORTS sack record."
If you could have any professional sports coaching position, which job and team would you choose?
"That's an easy one for me, head coach of the Dallas Cowboys. They were my childhood team. I'm really hoping they can win another title before I die! That would be my dream job."
What are you most looking forward to as things begin to re-open in the coming months?
"Face-to-face interaction with my players is number one, I'm a hands-on, face-to-face type of person and this pandemic has obviously taken a lot of that away. I love my student-athletes coming to my office, our random conversations and being able to help them out. It's those day-to-day interactions that I'm most looking forward to."
SOURCE:
Zachary McRae
Communications Officer
McGill Athletics & Recreation
514.616.5573 (Tel.)
www.mcgillathletics.ca
zachary.mcrae@mcgill.ca
