By Chad Klassen

Kamloops Broncos feel they found right guy to lead struggling franchise

Jan 18, 2019 | 2:35 PM

KAMLOOPS — After their first winless season in the B.C. Football Conference, things can only go up for the Kamloops Broncos. 

An 0-10 season led to a house-cleaning of sorts with Brad Yamaoka leaving as the head coach, Yan Antons stepping down as general manager, and Dino Bernardo not returning as the team’s president. 

It’s now up to new head coach Rob Ellis, who was officially hired on Wednesday night following the Broncos’ board meeting. 

“Rob’s well-respected in the football community,” said the team’s interim president Darren Watt. “He coaches a lot of places and helps a lot. I think Rob has the skills to lead us to the next level. For us to get him to come to take over the reins is huge for us.”

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Ellis, who coached the Broncos during the 2009 and 2010 seasons, lives in Salmon Arm. Watt believes Ellis’ calm demeanor as a coach will help develop all the young players the Broncos sport. 

“I think we have a team full of young players that are very talented, but they’re young,” noted Watt. “We need someone who can bring them along and build a team and build a culture we’re looking for. I really think he’s the guy that can do it.”

Ellis beat out other candidates who submitted resumes from all across the country, but Watt and the rest of the Broncos’ board of directors kept coming back to Ellis. 

In terms of recruitment, which Kamloops has struggled with, Watt feels attracting the growing number of local talent may be the key in building a competitive team in the near future before a winning culture can be established. 

“At the end of the day, if you have a winning franchise, it’s a lot easier to attract those players. Lots of people overlook the talent we have locally. There are a lot of guys just coming out of high school or have graduated in the last year or two and are primed and ready to go. So looking in our own backyard might be a way to build that up.”