Bishop’s new offensive coordinator discusses his aspirations for next season.
Once a Bishop’s enemy, wearing red and gold with the University of Laval’s Rouge et Or, Benoit Groulx will now assist head coach Leroy Blugh as offensive coordinator of the Gaiters. Groulx, Laval’s decorated quarterback for the past five years, has won the Vanier Cup twice; in 2006 and 2008. He has also won the QUFL’s Jeff Russel Player of the Year Honours three times and the CIS’s Hec Crighton Most Valuable Player Award once, in 2008.
I sat down with Groulx to find out a little more about his transition from quarterback to offensive coordinator and what Gaiter fans should expect out of the 2010 season.
Nicholas: As young as you are, just having graduated from university, how does it feel to take on a role so important like offensive coordinator, and why did you accept the job?
Groulx: Well, I didn’t expect it. When Coach Blugh asked me to be his offensive coordinator, I was surprised. Most offensive coordinators in the CIS have been in the league for 10, 15, 20 years. Straight out of university and having such an opportunity, I couldn’t refuse. I’m looking forward to it, I always choose the best challenge that’s available for me, and BU offered just that.
N: You have coached in the Quebec Major Football League and for the Vanier Cup. Have you always been interested in coaching?
G: I always thought about coaching, especially because of my time working with Justin Ethier, my coach and mentor from Laval. I learned a lot from him and he gave me that extra passion to be a coach.
N: Your statistics speak for themselves: 6th in CIS history for touchdown passes with 66, 2nd in yards passing with 8,530 and you hold the top two spots for completion percentage in a season; however, how easy is the transition from quarterback to offensive coordinator?
G: I was pretty much a coach at Laval. I prepared game plans, made plays and adjustments, and in every meeting working with the offensive line or receivers, I was able to see and understand the adjustments that are needed at every position. I would like to go to CFL camps or pro camps just to make sure I keep learning since there is an endless amount of information you can know about football.
N: What is it going to be like playing the Rouge et Or after being in Laval for so long and contributing so much to the team?
G: Yeah, it’s weird, I still call Laval ‘we’ when I talk to the guys. It’s funny actually, the schedule just came out today and we play at Laval, but I am now a Bishop’s Gaiter and my responsibility is winning for this team.
N: Knowing them so well, do you think you can help the Gaiters finally beat Laval?
G: I played against this defense for five years and I’ve seen what other teams were doing; what was working and what wasn’t. Also, Laval is losing many important players this year and I may have the edge, however Laval is a tough team to beat at home.
N: What will your strengths be on offense this coming season and what can Gaiter fans expect offensively?
G: If Shawn Gore and Steven Turner come back we will be solid. Everyone on the offensive line is coming back which is a big plus for us. If those guys are able to do a good job our offense will be great. I know there’s a lot of talent here, offensive-wise, especially with Jesse Andrews. I wanted to work with a veteran quarterback for my first year, and I think that working with a guy who’s been in this league and played as well as he has is going to help me and we can have a successful season.
