Former CFL coach Gary Etcheverry out as head coach at University of Ottawa

OTTAWA – Gary Etcheverry is out as the head football coach of the University of Ottawa Gee-Gees.

The school announced Sunday that Etcheverry had been released as its interim football coach. No immediate replacement was named.

“This is a change that we do not take lightly in any way,” Colin Timm, the school’s Assistant Director of Programs for Sports Services, said in a statement. “We need to ensure that we are putting ourselves in a position to move this program forward.

“It had become apparent that in order to do so we needed to take this action.”

The move comes a day after Ottawa (0-5) dropped a 32-25 decision to Queen’s but the Gee-Gees remain last in the OUA standings.

Etcheverry, a former head coach of the CFL’s Toronto Argonauts and a long-time defensive co-ordinator in the league, had been on the hotseat at Ottawa for implementing a non-traditional double-wing offence.

The Gee-Gees travel to Toronto to face the Varsity Blues on Saturday.

In its statement, the school said it hopes to select a permanent head football coach following the Grey Cup on Nov. 25 in Toronto.