Marauders welcome back Joe Sardo as Defensive Coordinator

The McMaster football program is reaching into the recent past to fill its vacant Defensive Coordinator post and is happy to confirm that Joe Sardo has agreed to assume the position, which he will share with longtime defensive backs coach Mark Forsyth.

"Marauder Football is thrilled to welcome Joe Sardo back to the coaching ranks at McMaster," said Head Coach Stefan Ptaszek, about his new staff addition.  "My entire staff recognizes the wealth of knowledge, people skills, and coaching talent this hire represents for our program."

"We are all excited to work with Joe and are extremely confident in his ability to help grow our program."

Coach Sardo previously served as the Marauder Defensive Coordinator for seven seasons from 1999 to 2005 and was on the sideline during McMaster's run of four consecutive Yates Cup championships.  He stepped away from the Marauders after the 2005 season to spend more time with his growing family, while also handling career demands as a vice-president at RBC Dominion Securities Inc.

A graduate of the University of Hawaii, Sardo was drafted by the Ottawa Rough Riders in 1992 and spent four years in the Canadian Football League (CFL) with Ottawa and Toronto. During his hiatus from the McMaster sideline, Sardo remained involved in football as a defensive assistant and Canadian scout with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, before becoming the Director of Football Operations for the Hamilton Football Association.  

"I'm very excited about this opportunity to come back to McMaster and work with Coach Ptaszek," said Sardo, who is a Hamilton native.  "Returning to a defensive staff where each member has dedicated over 20 years of finding ways to get an edge on their opponents provides a great opportunity, as well as stability for our current and future Marauders."

"I look forward to contributing and maintaining the high standard that McMaster expects from our student-athletes, as we look to add to recent successes."

During each of McMaster's four championship seasons from 2000 to 2003, the Marauder defense under Coach Sardo, allowed the fewest points in the OUA.

There will be a high level of familiarity for Sardo on the McMaster staff, as he reunites with several Marauder assistants that were in place during his first phase in Maroon.  These include: Defensive Co-Coordinator & Defensive Backs Coach Forsyth, Defensive Line Coach Carm Genovese, and Linebacker Coach Frank Gesztesi.  To assist Forsyth in coaching the defensive backfield, Special Teams Coordinator Rob Underhill has taken on expanded duties and will also help coach the Marauder secondary.

Coach Ptaszek is confident that the McMaster defense will not skip a beat, as the team looks at defending its 2014 Yates Cup title, adding, "Joe Sardo returns with outstanding working relationships already in place and he is the ideal candidate to coordinate this team of talented coaches."

Source: McMaster Marauders