Blake Nill
Encyclopedia
Blake Nill is a former Canadian football
defensive lineman and the current head coach
for the University of Calgary
's football team, the Calgary Dinos
. Nill became Calgary's head coach in 2006
after serving as head coach for the Saint Mary's Huskies
football team for eight years. His Huskies teams appeared in four Vanier Cup
s, winning in 2001
and 2002
while losing in 2003
and 1999
. As head coach of the Dinos, his teams have appeared in two Vanier Cups, losing twice, in 2009
and 2010
. As a professional player, he played for four seasons for the Calgary Stampeders
of the Canadian Football League
. Collegiately, he also played CIS football
for the Calgary Dinos
.
Canadian football
Canadian football is a form of gridiron football played exclusively in Canada in which two teams of 12 players each compete for territorial control of a field of play long and wide attempting to advance a pointed prolate spheroid ball into the opposing team's scoring area...
defensive lineman and the current head coach
Head coach
A head coach, senior coach or manager is a professional at training and developing athletes. They typically hold a more public profile and are paid more than other coaches...
for the University of Calgary
University of Calgary
The University of Calgary is a public research university located in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Founded in 1966 the U of C is composed of 14 faculties and more than 85 research institutes and centres.More than 25,000 undergraduate and 5,500 graduate students are currently...
's football team, the Calgary Dinos
Calgary Dinos
The Calgary Dinos football team has won the Vanier Cup national championship four times, the most out of any of the Canada West teams and most recently in 1995. The Dinos also won in 1983, 1985 and 1988. The team most recently appeared in the 2010 Vanier Cup, but lost to the Laval Rouge et Or...
. Nill became Calgary's head coach in 2006
2006 CIS football season
The 2006 CIS football season began on September 2, 2006, and concluded with the 42nd Vanier Cup national championship on November 25 at Griffiths Stadium in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, with the Laval Rouge et Or winning their fourth championship...
after serving as head coach for the Saint Mary's Huskies
Saint Mary's Huskies
The Saint Mary's Huskies are the men's and women's athletic teams that represent Saint Mary's University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. Their primary home turf is Huskies Stadium located in the centre of the University's campus....
football team for eight years. His Huskies teams appeared in four Vanier Cup
Vanier Cup
The Vanier Cup is the name of the championship of Canadian Interuniversity Sport football and the name of the trophy awarded to the victorious team. It is currently played between the winners of the Uteck Bowl and the Mitchell Bowl...
s, winning in 2001
37th Vanier Cup
The 37th Vanier Cup was played on November 25, 2001, at the SkyDome in Toronto, Ontario, and decided the CIAU football champion for the 2001 season...
and 2002
38th Vanier Cup
The 38th Vanier Cup was played on November 23, 2002, at the SkyDome in Toronto, Ontario, and decided the CIAU football champion for the 2002 season...
while losing in 2003
37th Vanier Cup
The 37th Vanier Cup was played on November 25, 2001, at the SkyDome in Toronto, Ontario, and decided the CIAU football champion for the 2001 season...
and 1999
35th Vanier Cup
The 35th Vanier Cup was played on November 27, 1999, at the SkyDome in Toronto, Ontario, and decided the CIAU football champion for the 1999 season...
. As head coach of the Dinos, his teams have appeared in two Vanier Cups, losing twice, in 2009
45th Vanier Cup
The 45th Vanier Cup was played on November 28, 2009, at PEPS Stadium in Quebec City, Quebec, and decided the CIS Football champion for the 2009 season. In the first Vanier Cup game played in the province of Quebec, the Queen's Golden Gaels came from behind to defeat the Calgary Dinos 33-31...
and 2010
46th Vanier Cup
The 46th Vanier Cup took place on November 27, 2010, at PEPS Stadium in Quebec City, Quebec, determining the CIS Football champions for 2010. The Laval Rouge et Or defeated the Calgary Dinos 29–2 to win their sixth national title in twelve years. Including the playoffs, the Rouge et Or won...
. As a professional player, he played for four seasons for the Calgary Stampeders
Calgary Stampeders
The Calgary Stampeders are a Canadian Football League team based in Calgary, Alberta and named in reference to the Calgary Stampede. The Stampeders play their home games at McMahon Stadium...
of the Canadian Football League
Canadian Football League
The Canadian Football League or CFL is a professional sports league located in Canada. The CFL is the highest level of competition in Canadian football, a form of gridiron football closely related to American football....
. Collegiately, he also played CIS football
CIS football
Twenty-six universities across Canada compete in football under the auspices of Canadian Interuniversity Sport . The teams are divided into four conferences, drawing from the four regional associations of the CIS: Canada West Universities Athletic Association, Ontario University Athletics, Quebec...
for the Calgary Dinos
Calgary Dinos
The Calgary Dinos football team has won the Vanier Cup national championship four times, the most out of any of the Canada West teams and most recently in 1995. The Dinos also won in 1983, 1985 and 1988. The team most recently appeared in the 2010 Vanier Cup, but lost to the Laval Rouge et Or...
.