Carleton Ravens introduce new head coach

Posted Jan 26, 2012 By Eddie Rwema

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EMC Sports - The long anticipated revival of football at Carleton University now looks imminent.

Last week, the university named Steve Sumarah the 13th head coach of the Ravens varsity football program.

Sumarah has been coaching in the Atlantic University Sport for the past 17 years and comes to Carleton after spending the last six seasons as head coach of the saint Mary's University Huskies.

The newly hired coach begun his work on Jan .23 and said he is got a ton of work to do to build a team that will hit field in 2013 after a 14- year absence.

"There are very few opportunities in life to be able to start something from the beginning," said Sumarah.

The Carleton Ravens football team was cut in 1999 after the restructuring of the department of recreation and athletics and the university administration.

Since then, the Old Crow Society - Carleton's football alumni chapter, have been working to revive the program.

Sumarah said he is happy and proud to lead the Ravens football program into its new era.

"To be honest, it is a fantastic opportunity and exciting," he said.

"I think this is phenomenal opportunity."

As head coach of St. Mary's University Huskies, he led the team to four consecutive AUS titles, a Uteck Bowl championship and a trip to the Vanier Cup in 2007, and was named the AUS coach of the year three times.

In a statement, Carleton University president Roseann O'Reilly Runte said she was pleased Sumarah will coach the Ravens from their first year.

"Coach Sumarah has an outstanding record of mentoring student-athletes and working with the community. We look forward to watching him build on Carleton's tradition of excellence in varsity sports."

A lot of work ahead

Though there has been a lot of work done in the background to revive the game at Carleton, the new head coach said there is still a long way to go.

Top on his list of priorities is to reacquaint people back that Carleton has a football team.

"We have to make sure people are excited so that when the ball is kicked in 2013, everybody is pleased by it," said Sumarah.

As of next month, Sumarah will embark on a long and tough job of assembling a group of 85 young men who will make the Ravens.

"Recruiting is the biggest part of the job," said Sumarah.

He expects to travel across Canada looking to recruit new talent.

"You need some guys with speed, guys that can catch the ball, those that can throw, big guys upfront that can block and aggressive guys in defense," he said.

He hopes to begin his search for recruits in Ottawa.

"Football in the Ottawa area is very strong and I think you have to start in your own backyard and then work out from there," he said.

"The nice thing about football is that every body type and every size has the ability to contribute in the game and we are trying to find all of them."

Plans are currently underway at Carleton for both the design and construction of new football facilities and stadium upgrades on campus.

Jennifer Brenning, Carleton's director of recreation and athletics said having the program back will help elevate the university's visibility.

"We are very pleased that he accepted the challenge of building our program and moving his family to Ottawa," she said.

According to the Brenning, once Sumarah is settled in, the university will set his objectives for the coming years, which would include winning games.

"Certainly we know the program is not going to be winning very many football games in its first few years. It's going to take a few years to build a successful competitive program," she said.

As of Sumarah, his hopes are to win the first time but agrees it will take a couple of years to start winning games.

"The fast you can get them up to speed and ready, the better," said Sumarah.

Eddie.rwema@metroland.com




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