EDMONTON & OTTAWA – Football Canada proudly announces the return of Warren Craney as the head coach of the Canadian Men’s Junior National Team. With a prestigious track record that includes the 2016 IFAF World Juniors gold, Craney is set to guide Team Canada towards a potential third consecutive championship victory.
Since starting his journey with the national junior program in 2009, Coach Craney has achieved unparalleled success, earning the title of the most decorated coach in the history of the IFAF World Junior Tournament.
“Warren Craney’s experience and past successes make him the natural choice to lead our team as we strive to defend our championships on home soil this June,” said Jim Mullin, President of Football Canada.
Originally from Kirkland, Quebec, Craney has previously led the Junior National Team to international acclaim, securing a Gold Medal as Defensive Coordinator in 2012 in Austin, Texas. He assumed the head coaching role in Kuwait in 2014, winning silver, then followed up with a Gold Medal in China in 2016, marking Canada’s second world championship. He returned to the 2024 team as Special Teams Coordinator, a role he held until his recent appointment as head coach.
Joey Swarbrick, Interim Director – Sport, who oversaw the national evaluation camps in December, commended Craney’s expertise. “His insights into international tournament football are tried and tested. From player evaluation to roster selection, and the intense demands of tournament play, Warren’s strategies and knowledge are top-notch,” Swarbrick stated.
“It is with great pride that I accept the honor of being named the Team Canada Head Football Coach for the U20 team for the second time in my career,” Craney stated. “Having served in this role before and working closely with Coach Steve Sumarah, I anticipate a seamless transition as we prepare for the 2024 tournament in Edmonton.”
Craney’s coaching acumen is supported by his tenure as a U SPORTS Head Coach at York University from 2010 to 2022, where several players advanced to the CFL and NFL. This followed a successful period as a Defensive Coordinator at Concordia University. His CANADA coaching career, spanning over 27 years, is a testament to his enduring dedication to the sport.
Football Canada extends heartfelt gratitude to departing head coach Steve Sumarah and defensive coordinator Jeff Cummins for their significant contributions. Their efforts were instrumental in securing the gold for Canada at the World Junior Championship in 2018 in Mexico City, an event witnessed by over 30,000 fans at Estadio Olimpico.
Although Sumarah was scheduled to lead the team in the 2020 and 2021 World Juniors, the events were unfortunately canceled due to the pandemic. As we move forward, Football Canada is excited to embark on this next chapter under the seasoned leadership of Coach Craney.
“I want to personally thank Steve for everything he has done for the program during his tenure as Head Coach. He is an exceptional coach and a good friend,” Coach Craney remarked.
Craney recalls that securing the gold in Harbin, China, proved to be a once-in-a-lifetime experience for the 2016 team. It was about more than just football; it was a cultural exchange.
“Over the course of 26 demanding training camp and tournament days in Harbin, we had the incredible opportunity to immerse ourselves in Chinese culture,” Craney reflected. “The warmth of the Chinese people was undeniable as they embraced and cheered for us, especially during the thrilling gold medal final game where we managed to upset a formidable United States team. The entire journey was not just a victory on the field but
also a celebration of cross-cultural camaraderie and sportsmanship.” According to Craney, embarking on the pursuit of a historic third consecutive gold medal is a testament to the exceptional caliber of football athletes and the depth of coaching that Canada continues to produce.
“The prospect of clinching gold on Canadian soil, with the iconic maple leaf proudly displayed, adds an extra layer of excitement to this opportunity,” Craney added.
More updates on Team Canada will be announced in the coming weeks.
For More Information:
Jim Mullin
President, Football Canada
T: 778-996-7398
E: jim@northern8.com
ABOUT FOOTBALL CANADA
Established in 1884, Football Canada is the national governing body of amateur football in Canada and a proud member of the International Federation of American Football (IFAF). Working closely with the provincial football associations, we develop programs and resources for players, coaches, officials in the three disciplines of Tackle, Flag and Touch Football. Football Canada’s vision statement is “from playground to stadium” where players can participate in the game of football throughout a lifetime recreationally, competitively and internationally.