CFL Calgary Stampeders

D-coordinator back for 2005 season

Published on December 2, 2004 under Canadian Football League (CFL)
Calgary Stampeders News Release


(Calgary) – Today Calgary Stampeders General Manager and Head Coach Matt Dunigan announced that Defensive Coordinator Denny Creehan will be returning for the 2005 season.

"I talked very strongly about Denny last January when he joined the organization as he brings an extreme amount of knowledge and expertise on the defensive side of the ball. I like the direction Denny took our defence this past year and look forward to seeing them reach new heights in the upcoming season. Our next priority is to secure a quality Offensive Coordinator" stated General Manager and Head Coach Matt Dunigan.

Below is a closer look at Denny Creehan:

Denny Creehan

Defensive Coordinator

CFL: 5th Season

Stampeders: 2nd Season

Denny Creehan, with over 30 years of coaching experience at both the professional and collegiate levels, begins his second year as Defensive Coordinator for the Calgary Stampeders.

In Denny's first season as Defensive Coordinator with the Stampeders he brought innovative defensive schemes to the organization with his 3-4 style of defence. His implementation of this system allowed him to get the most of his players by putting them in the right situation to excel.

Creehan, whose defensive unit finished among the CFL elite, guided his troops to the top of several defensive categories. They finished the season second in fewest yards total offence (6,095), average yards offence per game (339), average gain per rush (4.8), fewest yards net passing (4,758), and average yards passing per game (264.3). The team was also third in interceptions (24) and first in interception return yards (579) which resulted in five touchdowns.

Creehan was instrumental in several players reaching career highs this past season. At the linebacker position John Grace had a spectacular season as he recorded career highs in sacks (7), pass knockdowns (7) and interceptions (3 tied his 2002 total); he was also named the Western Division Defensive Player of the Year for the first time in his career. Scott Coe recorded several career highs of his own: defensive tackles (71), forced fumbles (2), fumble recoveries (4 – tied for 2nd in the league), and sacks (4). Two other linebackers also recorded career highs. George White led the team with 9 tackles for a loss which was a career high as were his 5 quarterback sacks and was 4th in the league with 87 defensive tackles. Brian Clark tied a few of his career highs with 57 defensive tackles, 7 pass knockdowns and achieved a career high with 4 quarterback sacks. In the backfield the Stampeders Joey Boese finished the season 2nd in the league with 92 defensive tackles which was a career high as was his 3 interceptions and 13 special team tackles. On the defensive line Sheldon Napastuk had a career year recording a season high in defensive tackles (34), tackles for a loss (7) and pass knock downs (4).

Before joining the Stampeder Creehan spent three years as a coach with the Edmonton Eskimos in 1995, 1996 and 1991 as their special teams coach. He was also a defensive coordinator for the Rutgers (Division 1-A) from 1998 - 2000, Arkansas State (Division 1-A) in 1997 and Edinboro University (Division II) from 1976-1978. Most recently Creehan was an assistant coach at West Point as Army's Special Team Coach.

Creehan also held various head coaching positions in his career with South Dakota (D-IAA) from 1992-1996, San Francisco State (D-II) from 1990-1991 and Edinboro University (D-II) from 1979-1985.

Creehan, who coordinated the special teams at Duke University and worked with the Blue Devils' inside and outside linebackers for two years, overseen the specialty units while also working with the outside linebackers at Army. Prior to signing on at Duke, Creehan served as defensive coordinator at Rutgers University for three years.

Under Creehan, the Blue Devils topped the Atlantic Coast Conference and ranked fourth nationally in punt return average in 2001, establishing a school record in the process.

Creehan helped Rutgers post the second-best turnaround in the nation in 1998 as the Scarlet Knights improved from a winless 1997 campaign to five wins in 1998, his first season at RU. Prior to his stint with Rutgers, the 1971 Edinboro (Pa.) University graduate served as head coach at the University of South Dakota (1992-96) before assuming the role of defensive coordinator at Arkansas State University in 1997. While at USD, Creehan led the Coyotes to national rankings in three seasons and established 26 new school and conference records. He was also named 1993 North Central Conference "Coach of the Year."

Creehan began his coaching career in 1971, serving as defensive coordinator at Keystone Oaks High School in Pittsburgh, Pa. In 1974, he joined Johnny Majors' staff at the University of Pittsburgh, where he spent one season as a graduate assistant. Following one-year as offensive coordinator at Carnegie Mellon University, Creehan assumed duties as defensive coordinator at his alma mater from 1976 to 1978, before taking over as head coach prior to the 1979 season.

During his six seasons as head coach at Edinboro, Creehan posted a 39-20-1 record (.658) with the Fighting Scots while winning league titles in 1982 and 1984. In his final three seasons, Edinboro posted a combined record of 25-5 (.833) and finished each season ranked among the nation's top 15 teams. His .658 winning percentage continues to rank as the highest in Edinboro football history.

He departed the college ranks in 1985 to become the special team's coordinator with the Edmonton franchise of the Canadian Football League and helped the Eskimos to a Western Division championship and Grey Cup appearance in 1986. After serving as an assistant coach at the University of California-Berkeley (1987-89) and head coach at San Francisco State University (1990-91), he returned to Edmonton for the 1991 campaign where he helped lead the Eskimos to a Western Division championship.

A Hall of Fame member at both Bethel Park High School and Edinboro University, Creehan earned master's degrees from both Duquesne University in 1973 and Pittsburgh in 1977. He and his wife, Linda have two sons: Kevin, a professor at Virginia Tech University; and Casey, who coached the Stampeders Defensive line this past season.

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