York Lions pick a winner in new head coach Warren Craney

LONDON, ONT.—York University has a new head football coach.

He had a say in the success of new Toronto Argonauts linebacker Cory Greenwood, a third overall pick in the recent Canadian Football League draft, and now Warren Craney is hoping to change things for the better at York.

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A coach with the Concordia Stingers in Montreal for the past 11 seasons — six as defensive coordinator, where he coached Greenwood — Craney will formally be announced as the Lions’ newest recruit on Monday.

“The only way to win is with GTA players,” said Craney. “While it won’t be easy, my job is to build credibility, a successful program, win the battle of recruiting and own the best (graduating high school) players in this area.”

The 41-year-old from Kirkland, Que., has some impressive credentials, enough that a selection committee convinced York athletic director Jennifer Myers that he was the man for the job.

“He’s perfect for our job,” said Myers. “With his character, enthusiasm and network, we have the right guy. Over the next three years, things will change and we’re expecting to win the GTA recruiting battle.”

Craney, an assistant coach at the Canadian University East-West all-star game on Saturday at TD Waterhouse Stadium, will earn a salary close to six figures, Myers said.

In the all-star game, featuring many players eligible for the 2011 CFL draft, the East beat the West 12-9 on a chilly day marked by torrential rain, wind and even snow flurries. Attendance was only 541.

But there was plenty of chatter from Craney, who is charged with rebuilding the worst university football program in Canada.

“No one can understand why there has been such disarray with the football program at York and I’m committed to changing things,” said Craney, a father of four.

“Some of the top players in Canada came out of the Greater Toronto Area and it’s time to put pride back in the program and have York become Toronto’s team. We need to build, build fast.”

Craney takes over from Mike McLean, who was fired by Myers while in the second year of his three-year contract.

York’s Steve Reading and Andre Clarke, both defensive all-stars on the losing West team in Saturday’s game, were pleased with the choice of Craney as their new coach.

“He knows his stuff and it’s great news,” said Reading, a third-year linebacker. “It’s time to get things back on track and I trust the York administration made the right decision.”

Craney is widely respected among the Canadian football coaching fraternity.

Many gave the thumbs-up when asked during Saturday’s game about Craney’s success in football. Greenwood is among three Concordia players who won the Presidents’ Trophy as the outstanding defensive player in Canadian university football while under Craney’s tutelage.

Earlier this year, Craney was defensive coordinator for Team World in a 17-0 loss to Team USA during Pro Bowl week in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. He also coached Team Canada in a loss at the world junior under-20 all-star game in Canton, Ohio.