Oak Park RaidersFootball Club

Coaches

The people who run the programme.

Oak Park team huddle with coaches looking onDGN Photos

Chris Ollson runs the programme. He played here, then spent years as an assistant under Stu Nixon before taking over when Nixon retired in 2022 — which is why the handover did not read as one.

Coaching staff at Oak Park have tended to stay. Nixon credited Ryan Soroka, Dave Black and Ollson himself for the run of championships, on the grounds that standards survive a graduating class only if the adults do.

NEEDS THE CLUB: the current coaching staff — names, roles, and a couple of lines each, for both squads. Photographs can follow later; the names are the part people are looking for, and this page is one of the first a new family opens.

The club’s board and directors are separate from the coaching staff, and are listed under About.

Varsity

  • Photograph

    On the sideline, headset on, mid-conversation. He is the face of the programme and the one portrait on this page worth taking properly.

    Chris Ollson
    Head Coach & Special Teams Coordinator

    Played at Oak Park, then coached here under Stu Nixon before taking over in 2022. In 2023 his side wore Truth and Reconciliation jerseys designed by its own players.

  • Photograph

    Head and shoulders, outdoors, club colours. Same framing for everyone.

    Aaron Giesbrecht
    Offensive Coordinator

    The Winnipeg Rifles’ first quarterback, in the club’s inaugural season in 2002. Founded Big Air Academy, and hosts Talking QBs, a podcast on the Canadian quarterback.

  • Photograph

    Head and shoulders, outdoors, club colours. Same framing for everyone.

    Jordan Scholfield
    Defensive Coordinator & Defensive Line
  • Photograph

    Head and shoulders, outdoors, club colours. Same framing for everyone.

    Eric Yuen
    Assistant Offensive Coordinator
  • Photograph

    Head and shoulders, outdoors, club colours. Same framing for everyone.

    Josh Charison
    Quarterbacks Coach
  • Photograph

    Head and shoulders, outdoors, club colours. Same framing for everyone.

    Kevan Savage
    Assistant Quarterbacks Coach
  • Photograph

    Head and shoulders, outdoors, club colours. Same framing for everyone.

    Tyler Fabri
    Offensive Line Coach
  • Photograph

    Head and shoulders, outdoors, club colours. Same framing for everyone.

    Ian Holland
    Assistant Offensive Line Coach
  • Photograph

    Head and shoulders, outdoors, club colours. Same framing for everyone.

    Ethan Diakow
    Wide Receivers Coach

    Played here, then four seasons as a receiver for the Manitoba Bisons.

  • Photograph

    Head and shoulders, outdoors, club colours. Same framing for everyone.

    Kevin Zaluski
    Wide Receivers Coach
  • Photograph

    Head and shoulders, outdoors, club colours. Same framing for everyone.

    Tim Dimidiak
    Running Backs Coach
  • Photograph

    Head and shoulders, outdoors, club colours. Same framing for everyone.

    Shawn Henry
    Defensive Line Coach
  • Photograph

    Head and shoulders, outdoors, club colours. Same framing for everyone.

    Austin Harvey
    Linebackers Coach
  • Photograph

    Head and shoulders, outdoors, club colours. Same framing for everyone.

    Chris Ruiz
    Defensive Backs Coach
  • Photograph

    If any photograph on this page is worth chasing, it is this one: him coaching, in a Raiders jacket, on the field he won a championship on.

    Charlie Ringland
    Defensive Assistant

    Class of 2018 — won Oak Park the 2017 CTV Cup, and now plays professionally.

  • Photograph

    Head and shoulders, outdoors, club colours. Same framing for everyone.

    Rod Hill
    Quality Control Coach

    A first-round NFL draft pick who became a Blue Bomber: two Grey Cups, twice a CFL All-Star, and still the franchise record holder for career interceptions.

Junior Varsity

  • Photograph

    Head and shoulders, outdoors, club colours. Same framing for everyone.

    Chad Mackay
    Head Coach

    On the Raiders staff since at least 2018.

  • Photograph

    Head and shoulders, outdoors, club colours. Same framing for everyone.

    Doug Young
    Assistant Head Coach
  • Photograph

    Head and shoulders, outdoors, club colours. Same framing for everyone.

    Brian Dagg
    Offensive Coordinator
  • Photograph

    Head and shoulders, outdoors, club colours. Same framing for everyone.

    Josh Toledo
    Defensive Coordinator & Defensive Line Coach

    Played defensive line for the Manitoba Bisons.

  • Photograph

    Head and shoulders, outdoors, club colours. Same framing for everyone.

    Alex Christie
    Assistant Offensive Coordinator
  • Photograph

    Head and shoulders, outdoors, club colours. Same framing for everyone.

    Harman Sandhu
    Offensive Line Coach
  • Photograph

    Head and shoulders, outdoors, club colours. Same framing for everyone.

    Wyatt Barber
    Wide Receivers Coach
  • Photograph

    Head and shoulders, outdoors, club colours. Same framing for everyone.

    Alistair Fogg
    Assistant Wide Receivers Coach
  • Photograph

    Head and shoulders, outdoors, club colours. Same framing for everyone.

    Lloyd Orris
    Running Backs Coach
  • Photograph

    Head and shoulders, outdoors, club colours. Same framing for everyone.

    Samson Abbott
    Linebackers Coach

    Led Alberta in sacks as a rookie, then the Winnipeg Rifles, then the Manitoba Bisons — and on to the CFL with the Ottawa Redblacks.

  • Photograph

    Head and shoulders, outdoors, club colours. Same framing for everyone.

    Reed Davies
    Defensive Backs Coach
  • Photograph

    Head and shoulders, outdoors, club colours. Same framing for everyone.

    Maurie Bramwell
    Defensive Assistant
  • Photograph

    Head and shoulders, outdoors, club colours. Same framing for everyone.

    Paul Van Der Merwe
    Defensive Assistant

Board and directors

The club’s governance is separate from its coaching staff.

Board & Directors