Mark McConkey, former receiver, now head coach of the Regina Rams looks to lead the team to more success
REGINA, Saskatchewan — When the University of Regina football team first hired Mark McConkey in 2015, Mike Gibson, the head coach at the time, was sure that he wouldn’t have to guide the offense of the Rams during the Canada West football games for much longer.聽
Expressing his delight at having 25-year-old McConkey around as an offensive coordinator, , “I wanted a young guy who I felt was: (a) a good teacher – and all the people at the school he’s coming from (Balgonie Greenall High School) rave about his teaching ability – and (b) knows this university.”聽
Gibson went ahead to describe McConkey as a, “diamond in the rough.”
And McConkey has been impressive ever since.
McConkey joined the Regina Rams workforce on July 1, 2015, as a full-time offensive coordinator, academic resource coach and quarterbacks coach. In February 2020, the University’s football club named McConkey the team’s interim head coach. He took over from Stephen Bryce, who had coached the Regina Rams since March 2016 until he resigned for personal reasons.
The Calgary native and graduate of Lord Beaverbrook High School, Calgary, in 2007, is a University of Regina Bachelor of Kinesiology holder, with a major in human kinetics in the year 2012. Two years later, he got a Bachelor of Education, majoring in physical education and minoring in health.聽
He went for his internship at the Greenall High School, Balgonie, Saskatchewan, where he taught Grade 9 and Grade 10 before taking on Griffins’ football team coach. McConkey also served as head coach of their senior boys’ basketball team while heading the track and field teams.
Coach McConkey started playing with the Rams after High School in 2007 but had to redshirt the 2007 season in the game against Calgary.聽
In 2008, he became eligible to play and started as wide receiver in eight regular games. McConkey, who was 6-foot-2 and weighed 195 pounds at the time, played offense for the team and continued in that position until he scored his career highs in receptions and receiving yards in 2010. Although an injury cost him most of the 2012 campaign, McConkey went ahead to make history in Canada West with 180 receptions collected in his career before his former teammate, Jared Janotta, broke his record the following season.
McConkey received Academic All-Canadian status by the end of his playing season with the Regina Rams in 2013. He was previously named Canada West all-star in 2011. Mark has a total of 1,991 career receiving yards, making him the 5th in Regina Rams history. In summary, he played a total of 40 games – 1 game each in 2007 and 2012, 7 each in 2011 and 2013, and 8 each in 2008, 2009, and 2010. His playing career ended as the team’s slotback.
Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic completely wiped out McConkey’s first coaching season. However, the interim head coach kept the team connected during the self-isolation period through weekly positional meetings on Zoom.
During his tenure as offensive coordinator, academic resource coach, and quarterbacks coach of the Regina Rams, quarterback Noah Picton received the Hec Crighton Trophy in 2016, while Picton and his cousin Mitchell Picton were named All-Canadian in 2016. As well, five players were named Canada West all-stars, out of which the CFL drafted three.
As McConkey prepared his team for the 2021 season, where they are to play a 6-game schedule instead of the usual 8-game schedule, he noted that his team members, coaches, and entire organization were excited about a new Canada West season, especially after a long winter. Even before the training camp opened around September 3, Coach McConkey that “Our players are excited. The buzz around here is positive.”
Coach Mark McConkey, who is in charge of the Regina Rams’ recruiting, planning, training, and preparation processes, is confident that he can lead the football program to a top spot in U Sports.
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