In the coming weeks, a page in Quebec college football history will be turned as Vanier College Cheetahs head coach Peter Chryssomalis has decided to step down at the end of the season.
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However, the 65-year-old is not retiring and would love to return to college football after serving on the coaching staff of the Concordia Stingers in the 1990s.
“I still feel like a young man and people tell me I don’t look my age,” Chryssomalis said, laughing, in a generous phone interview. I think I have a lot to offer for a university program. I’ll see if I get an opportunity.”
The one known as “Coach Pete” will have made his mark on college football in the 18 seasons he captained the Cheetahs. He led his team to the Bol D’Or finals eight times and won five championships. So far he has a record of 131 wins and 59 losses.
Thanks from former players have swept across social media since the announcement of his departure. Chryssomalis is also very touched by these honors.
“It makes me feel good to know that my job isn’t just about winning and losing. It’s more about developing young people for the next level.”
A tough man with a soft heart
Byron Archambault and Brian Harelimana, coaches and players of the Montreal Alouettes, developed under the tutelage of “Coach Pete” at CEGEP. The two men share essentially the same memory of the man.
“It was ‘tough love’ with him,” said Archambault. You had to earn his respect. When you got it, you didn’t want to lose it. He was a coach who was close to these players. He was rude, but for all the right reasons.
“He’s one of the best coaches I’ve ever had. He was rough and intense, but he always wanted your best,” added Harelimana.
“All the guys who graduated at the same time as me, we played our freshman year at varsity level. We were ready to play at the next level because he prepared us for it.
The two representatives of the “Als” are among the group of more than 35 players coached by Chryssomalis who have played in the Canadian Football League, including Kristian Matte.
“A win rate like that says something about the coach,” said the Sparrows offensive lineman. The work ethic he instilled in us from a young age has helped us on our journey to professional football.
bilingualism
There has also been a major change in the Vanier College football program under Chryssomalis’ leadership, namely the number of French speaking student-athletes.
Archambault, who played for the Cheetahs from 2008 to 2010, recalled being at the center of that transition.
“I remember that we were among the first generations of francophones to go to Vanier. “Coach Pete” showed tremendous openness and changed the perception of the program among French speakers. He opened the door for us.”
The footballer is particularly proud of this aspect of his career at Vanier.
“When I accepted the position at Vanier, my goal was for our program to be fully bilingual. Currently 70% of our players come from the French educational system and 80% of our players are fully bilingual. I wanted our program to be representative of our community and we achieved that.”
A warning to Football Quebec and the RESQ
If he decided to end his long career in Quebec college football, it was because Peter Chryssomalis was fed up with increasingly common situations.
“I think college football is suffering because several young players are choosing to leave the provinces to play prep schools in the United States. That makes our product less good,” he explained.
In the last two years, “Coach Pete” estimates, eight players he’s recruited have changed their minds to join our neighbors to the south.
“I truly believe that Football Quebec and RSEQ need to address this issue because I believe college football is superior and provides a better environment for development than American Prep Schools.”
Chryssomalis believes this phenomenon will have a major impact as College First Division programs will begin to recruit less talented players and this will impact the other divisions.
“There will be a domino effect and I wouldn’t be surprised if there aren’t enough athletes to keep the third division going for the next few years.”
“We need to find a way to better market our product and that needs to start with Football Quebec and the RSEQ!”