The Okanagan Sun has named Ben Macauley as the 16th head coach in team history.
Macauley, who takes over for the recently departed Shane Beatty, is coming off an outstanding season as the head coach of the KSS Owls.
His club finished 4-2 in the BC High School Football’s Eastern Conference, scoring 156 points and allowing just 69. Overall the Owls had a 9-3 record. In the high school post season they beat #1 Argyle 27-7 in the first round of the playoffs before bowing out in the quarterfinals to the eventual champions.
He is no stranger to the Sun program, joining the broadcast team for the 2010 season before assisting with the coaching staff for two seasons (2012-2013) working primarily with the offensive line.
A former tight-end Macauley was recruited by the USC Trojans, playing a season with their junior college program at Glendale College in California.
However multiple shoulder injuries ended his playing career.
“I’m excited work with a local, community run team,” says Macauley. “I have enjoyed my time getting to know everyone in the organization over the time I’ve been here (in Kelowna). This organization is a strong and proud one and I’m honoured to be given the opportunity to take them to the next level.”
“We are very excited to have Ben Macauley as our head coach,” says team President Bill Long. “He was on our radar right from the outset, and we actually interviewed him five years ago for a previous opening.
“We could see the potential then, but he just needed some more experience. He is exactly the type of person we want as a head coach—knowledgeable about the game, a man of integrity and character, and has the same vision of where we need to go not only as a team, but the entire organization.”
“We received 12 applications in two days, and never posted the position being available,” continues Long. “We were very impressed by the quality of candidates we received from all across Canada and even from an NCAA coach. It’s a testament to how coveted it is to coach in the Okanagan, and we were very flattered by that.”
Macauley says his top priority will be to contact all of the players eligible to return for the 2016 season. He will also take part in winter workouts at the CNC on Sundays, then sit down with the coaching staff and fill in the vacant spots.
He is also a family man with his beautiful wife Erika and young son Glen.
