The V.I. Raiders open main camp next week as junior football season is just around the corner.
Raiders head of football operations Andrew Harris was in Nanaimo last week for a corporate launch to the season to thank sponsors and supporters and assure them that the club is well on its way to re-establishing its position as a premier team in the B.C. Football Conference.
“It’s a work in progress. Where the team was at the last few years is not the standard that we have, that I have coming back into the organization,” Harris said. “It really takes everyone in this room here, from the coaching staff, to the old faces and the new faces, to rally behind and support this team to get it back to where it needs to be.”
Also last week, the Raiders named Jay Daniels as interim coach for this coming season as Harris – earmarked to be coach in 2024 – concludes his CFL playing career.
Harris said Daniels is a great leader and someone who knows the game.
“Just talking x’s and o’s with him, he’s got a wealth of knowledge for the game…” Harris said. “Me and Jay’s relationship is growing and it’s thriving and he’s definitely someone that we can bounce ideas off of each other and grow as individual coaches and ultimately grow together for the better good of this team.”
Daniels said working with Harris has been a fantastic opportunity and he said he considers the interim coach role as a big responsibility considering the club’s “history of championships and winning.”
Daniels will also be handling defensive coordinator duties this season. He got a chance to work with this year’s group of Raiders at spring camp and although it seems to be a youthful group, he liked what he saw.
“I think that we’re going to surprise a few people,” Daniels said. “A lot of talent in this young pool … I’m really excited for what they’re going to bring to the table for us.”
The Raiders begin main camp Monday, July 17, at Caledonia Park. The season starts July 29. For more schedule and ticket information, visit http://viraiders.ca.
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editor@nanaimobulletin.com
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