Every game, don’t miss Barney Shynkaruk’s Behind the Facemask — a closer look at your favourite Saskatchewan Roughriders.
This week: Roughriders assistant special teams coach Jeff Stusek.
Barney Shynkaruk:
All right, it’s Behind the Facemask, and today we’re joined by a former touch football teammate of mine, Jeff Stusek.
Jeff, thanks for doing this.
First off, when does coaching the Riders become real for you? Is it the first e-transfer into your account? When does all of this hit?
Jeff Stusek:
I think it became real when the players showed up.
Film is film. It’s like university — you’re looking at scheme, evaluating players and preparing for the draft.
But once training camp started and the players were here, it became real.
Some dudes can run, they’re big, and they play well.
It’s been a great experience. The coaches are fantastic. The players want to be great, and the standard is high.
That’s what we’re chasing.
Barney:
Was this a no-brainer decision? Did you lean on anyone for advice?
Jeff:
In some ways, it was easy, and in some ways, it was hard.
I loved the Rams. I loved where I was. I was the assistant head coach and had great relationships with everyone there.
I recruited a lot of those players, and my son coaches there too, so there’s a lot of history.
But growing up, I was a season ticket holder from age six and still am today.
At the same time, I’m retired from my professional life and taking on a 100-hour-a-week job doesn’t necessarily make sense — especially since my wife had just retired too.
But she was super supportive and said, “At your age, they’re not going to ask again. You’ve got to take it.”
I’m loving it.
It’s even busier than I expected, but it’s been great.
Barney:
Do you ever think back to those early football memories?
Old Taylor Field? Getting pads on for the first time?
Jeff:
Yeah.
I had a funny football career because I didn’t start until Grade 9.
I remember my first game — I was a running back and fumbled on our own two-yard line on my first carry.
Then I got another chance and went 109 yards for a touchdown.
That’s one of my first memories at old Optimist Field on Dewdney.
Then obviously Taylor Field — playing high school football there and remembering that turf.
And later, being on the Rider board for nine years and being involved in building this stadium.
That’s what makes this surreal.
I tell people I was part of the group that hired Craig Reynolds, and now I couldn’t be lower on the totem pole in the organization.
Now I’m photocopying, laminating and doing whatever needs to get done.
Barney:
No corner office?
Jeff:
No.
Basement office. No windows.
And I couldn’t be happier.
Corey Mace has been fantastic. Kent Majury’s been unbelievable.
I’m learning a ton.
Barney:
You went to Campbell Collegiate.
When you think back to high school football, who stands out?
Jeff:
There were lots.
Even at Campbell, there were guys that came after me that I later got to coach.
Jason Clermont and Chris Bauman are football names that stand out.
We played in what would now be smaller classifications, but there were great players everywhere.
Now I see so many of those guys coaching, involved in RMF and high school football.
That’s pretty cool.
Barney:
When did you get hooked on coaching?
Jeff:
Right away.
After high school, I went to university, but U of R didn’t have football at the time.
So I went back and coached high school for three years and got the bug.
Then I stepped away while doing my master’s.
Later, my oldest son, Carter, signed up for RMF, and I got pulled back in.
The rest is history.
It’s funny because if you fold everything together — coaching, being on the CFL Board of Governors and then ending up here — it’s been a crazy journey.
Barney:
What do Carter and Bennett think about all of this?
Jeff:
They’re pretty chill about it.
Carter probably appreciates it a little more because he coaches at the university level.
But to them, it’s just Dad doing what Dad does.
They’re supportive but not fanboys.
They’ve been around football a long time.
Barney:
People don’t realize how much football coaches sacrifice.
You need support at home.
Jeff:
One hundred percent.
Football coaches’ wives are special because they take over.
Football season isn’t eight hours a day — it’s 18.
You need someone who can handle the house and support everything.
For me, I was lucky because I coached my boys growing up.
RMF became family time.
This is the first time I’ve really done football without family on the field.
But Cheryl has been unbelievable.
She’s the rock of our family.
Barney:
She’s got the green light for some girls trips though?
Jeff:
One hundred percent.
Just not during football season.
Barney:
You look at the pipeline now — Rams coaches like yourself, Mark Mueller and others moving into the Riders.
That would’ve sounded crazy years ago.
Jeff:
Coach McConachie built something special.
There are professional-level coaches in that program.
Some just choose university football.
What we built culturally made it sustainable.
The expectation became competing for Hardys and Vaniers.
And now you see Rams players becoming Riders.
That doesn’t happen by accident.
Barney:
What’s different about coaching special teams in pro football compared to university?
Jeff:
There are differences.
The punt game is completely different.
Protection is different.
But football is football.
I was always known as a punt-block guy, and for me, blocking punts is attitude more than scheme.
That mentality still applies here.
Whether you coach nine-year-olds or 29-year-olds, football is still football.
Barney:
What’s something people don’t know about Kent Maugeri?
Jeff:
Kent’s a great guy.
He’s emotional — not negatively — but because he genuinely cares about players.
He treats them like sons.
I thought I knew special teams.
Then I got here and realized I know about five percent of what Kent knows.
I’m learning.
Barney:
Have you seen him in the gym? How many curls are we talking?
Jeff:
He talks about going to the gym a lot.
Whether I actually see him there… different story.
Barney:
Have you seen him in the gym? How many curls are we talking?
Jeff:
He talks about going to the gym a lot.
Whether I actually see him there… different story.
Barney:
Last one.
What do you tell young coaches?
Jeff:
You might know a lot about coaching — but you need to learn more.
Go to clinics.
Find mentors.
Spend time in the film room.
Learn the game beyond your own team.
People think coaching is the whistle and practice.
For us, it’s probably 10 hours in film for every hour on the field.
You’ve got to love learning if you want to do this.
Barney:
Jeff, thanks for doing this.
Hopefully, there’s some golf in the bye week.
Jeff:
Absolutely.
My wife and I are heading to the lake for five days.
I appreciate it.
Another edition of Behind the Facemask with Jeff Stusek.
