D'Amore named Head Coach of Lancer Football program
Windsor, ON - The University of Windsor’s Department of Athletics has announced that Joe D’Amore has been named the head coach of the Lancer Football program.
D’Amore is the fourth head coach in the Lancers’ 42-year history of the program, following a one year-stint as the interim head coach for the program.
“We are very excited to have Joe continue in the capacity of head coach,” said Director of Athletics Gord Grace. “We look forward to Joe and his staff providing outstanding coaching and leadership to our athletes.”
This past season, he served as the interim head coach and led the Lancers to a 5-3 record and back into the playoffs for the first time since 2006.
In the playoffs, his squad knocked off the Ottawa Gee Gees 50-33 on the road in the OUA quarter-finals before being narrowly edged in the Yates Cup Semi-Finals a week later.
Coach D’Amore’s team had six players named OUA All-stars off which three were named CIS Football All-Canadians as the best in the country.
Under his direction, the Lancers had the league’s third-ranked offence, averaging 474 yards a game and the fewest turnovers.
For his work this season, Joe was named the Tuffy Knight Award winner as the OUA Football Coach of the Year and he was a finalist for the CIS Football National Coach of the Year.
“I feel very honoured to continue in the capacity of head coach for the Lancer football program,” said D’Amore. “I look forward to working with the staff in the athletic department in providing an outstanding experience for our student-athletes. My staff and I will work very hard to maintain the level of excellence that has been established in the program, and continue to grow the program for the future.”
D’Amore joined the Lancers in 2009, and previously served as the offensive coordinator for the Essex Ravens in the Ontario Varsity Football League since 2007. With the Ravens, he has also worked as a special teams coordinator and the defensive backs coach.
D'Amore is no stranger to local high school football where he was the Head Coach and Offensive Coordinator for the Villanova Wildcats two years ago. Before that, he was the Head Coach for two years with the Sandwich HS Sabres.
He is best known for his playing career at the University of Windsor. He played for the Lancers from 1996-2000 as a wide receiver and started all 40 games of his career. He was also the team captain for the Lancers for three seasons.
Following his playing career, Joe moved on to play professional football in the Arena Football League (AFL2) with the Carolina Rhinos. He also played two seasons with the Fursty Razorbacks in the German Football League in Munich, Germany.
He broke into the coaching ranks in 2000 when he worked as a Graduate Assistant with the Lancer Football program.
“I’m looking forward to working with our current players and incoming recruits as we look to build on recent achievements and bring this program to where it deserves to be.”
Source: Windsor Lancers
