BURNABY – SFU Football has promoted Eric Taylor to offensive coordinator and named Samuel Richard special teams coordinator, head coach Mike Rigell announced today.
 
Taylor moves from receivers coach to offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, and he brings more than 10 years of experience as an offensive-minded coach after a four-year professional football career as a receiver and kick-returner.
 
SFU had the fifth ranked offence in the Lonestar Conference in 2022 with three players in the top 20 receiving. Ethan Beselt led the way with 36 catches in seven games, averaging 17.97 yards per catch and 92.4 yards per game. Sam Davenport also caught 36 passes, averaging 14.2 yards per catch and 51.3 yards per game. Robert Meadors caught 35 passes, averaging 9.9 yards per catch and 34.8 yards per game.
 
"I am excited about Eric becoming our new offensive coordinator because he brings a new vison of a fast-paced spread offensive system with throwing the ball all-around the field and getting our athletes in space to make plays," said Rigell.  "Our offence is going to be a nice mix between the Air Raid and RPO (run, pass, option) decision-based style of offense which our kids are excited to learn and implement."
 
The Red Leafs are learning the offence this week as the football program begins spring practice in preparation for the 2023 season.
 
Taylor has previous coaching experience within the BC high school football. Prior to coming to SFU, he was offensive coordinator at Terry Fox Secondary. The Ravens were the highest scoring offence in the province, averaging 36 points per game and enjoyed an undefeated season and three trips to the provincial championship game.
 
Taylor was head coach at Centennial Secondary for four years after a season as junior varsity head coach at West Van Secondary.
 
After a NCAA Division II career at Concordia University in Selma, Alabama, Taylor played with the BC Lions in 2008 and in 2009. He also spent three years playing in professional indoor football leagues.
 
Samuel Richard moves into the fulltime role of special teams' coordinator after three years coaching special teams and linebackers at Bishop's University in Sherbrooke, Quebec, a member of the Atlantic University Sport conference in U Sports. Richard played defensive back at Bishop's, studying sports studies Profil: athletic development. After graduating in 2018, he joined the Gaiters coaching staff as a graduated assistant with the defensive backs, before spending one year as defensive coordinator at Cegep Drummondville, and then returning to Bishops in 2020.
 
"Samuel is a new, up-and-coming coach who has multiple years as a special teams coordinator," said Rigell.  "He has worked with our defensive coordinator Jerome Erdman in the past and he will bring more stability and consistency to the defensive side of the ball and special teams play."