The kickoff to J.C. Sherritt’s CFL career is particularly memorable for, well, a kickoff.
Let’s rewind to June 17, 2011, when Sherritt was auditioning at linebacker with the Edmonton Elks when they visited historic Mosaic Stadium for a pre-season game against the Saskatchewan Roughriders.
“It was the biggest hail I’ve ever seen, where we actually had to run for cover,” marvels Sherritt, a new addition to the Roughriders’ coaching staff, “and the wind was so strong that one of the kickoffs actually ricocheted back and we recovered it. You can’t even explain the level of rotation on the football.
“That was my first experience here.”
Leading up to the opening kickoff for the Friday night game, residents of the Regina area braved a deluge of rain, along with winds that gusted to 81 km-h.
Although the rain had relented by game time, the storm returned with a vengeance in the fourth quarter.
On the opening play of the final frame, Edmonton’s Hugo Lopez launched a kickoff that unintentionally ended up landing a mere 13 yards beyond the line of scrimmage.
The football was recovered by Edmonton’s Youssy Pierre, whereupon quarterback Marc Mueller guided the visiting team’s offence on to the field.
Mueller starred for the Sheldon-Williams Spartans and University of Regina Rams before trying out for the Elks in 2011. In his lone CFL pre-season appearance, he went 3-for-3 for 45 yards.
Fast forward to 2024 and Mueller and Sherritt are now coaching colleagues with the Roughriders.
Mueller was a member of the Stampeders’ staff from 2014 to 2023. After excelling with Edmonton from 2011 to 2018, Sherritt made his CFL coaching debut with the Stampeders in 2019.
Sherritt spent one season as the Linebackers Coach in Calgary before moving to San Luis Obispo, Calif., and becoming the Defensive Co-ordinator and Linebackers Coach with the Cal Poly Mustangs from 2020 to 2023.
He then returned to the CFL as the Roughriders’ Linebackers’ Coach and Run Game Co-ordinator.
“The two goals I had as a little kid were to play football as long as I could and then coach football,” says Sherritt, who was introduced to the sport as a 10-year-old resident of Heppner, Wash.
“My body was starting to give out on me, so I was really grateful to get the opportunity. I had some people who really looked out for me who put in a good word.”
Sherritt is therefore grateful to two of the Stampeders’ key decision-makers — Dave Dickenson (who is now the team’s Head Coach and General Manager) and John Hufnagel (a former Stampeders Head Coach, GM and President who recently assumed the role of Special Advisor).
“I just had unbelievable men and coaches through my whole life who really had an effect on me,” says Sherritt, 35.
“On the field and off the field, they provided me with a lot of opportunities. I really respected them and looked up to them. I looked at those guys and said, ‘I want to do that.’ ”
Sherritt is especially appreciative of Bob Wollan (the Head Coach at Pullman High School from 2003 to 2005) and Beau Baldwin (Head Coach, Eastern Washington University, 2008 to 2016). Baldwin, incidentally, was recently named the Stampeders’ Quarterbacks Coach.
“(Wollan and Baldwin) were probably the most authentic people I’ve ever been around,” Sherritt says. “They knew exactly who they were and exactly what they wanted, but they also adapted with the times, because the times are always changing. Those two were as big an influence as I’ve ever had.
“I don’t know if I’ve ever had a bad coach, throughout my time in football. As far back as I can remember, the coaches have had such positive impacts on my life. They were people I always looked up to, so that’s a path I followed.”
But not before becoming an elite CFL linebacker.
In 2011, Sherritt was named the West Division’s Most Outstanding Rookie.
He followed up in 2012 by amassing 130 defensive tackles (then a league record) and being honoured as the CFL’s Most Outstanding Defensive Player.
Additionally, Sherritt helped Edmonton capture a Grey Cup championship in 2015.
He retired as a player on Jan. 16, 2019 and, at least officially, was out of football for a mere 12 days before joining the Stampeders’ coaching staff.
His fellow coaches at the time included Mueller (running backs), Corey Mace (defensive line) and Joshua Bell (defensive backs).
Just across the hall from Sherritt’s office at McMahon Stadium was Kyle Carson, who was then a Stampeders scout and the team’s CFL Draft Co-ordinator.
Mace was named the Roughriders’ Head Coach on Nov. 30. His staff now includes Sherritt, Mueller (Offensive Co-ordinator) and Bell (Defensive Backs Coach, Pass Game Co-ordinator).
Sherritt has also been reunited with Carson, who joined the Roughriders’ Football Operations staff in 2019 and is now an Assistant GM.
“I love it here,” Sherritt says with a smile. “We live on the east side. I get to come into a beautiful work environment every day. It takes me 16 minutes to get to work.
“As a football coach, it’s what I’m looking for.”
Regina has also become home for Sherritt’s wife, Megan, who is an athletic trainer at Level 10 Fitness. The business is owned by Dan Farthing, who is the Roughriders’ newly appointed Head of Strength and Conditioning.
Taking everything into consideration, life could hardly be better for Sherritt, who loves his surroundings at new Mosaic Stadium — a considerably nicer facility than the one at which he was introduced to Canadian professional football.
“As a player, you knew instantly when you walked into the stadium how seriously people take football here,” Sherritt reflects.
“Where I’m from, that’s how it has always been as well, so to be around a football community makes me feel very comfortable all the time. Then there’s the people I work with.
“Obviously, our facilities are second to none, so you get that plus the people you trust and believe in, and then you’re in a football community.
“I don’t have a lot of complaints right now.”
