JUSTIN SHAKELL - Head Coach U18+
Coach Shakes started his playing days in the Belleville Minor Football League in 1992. From there he spent 5 years at Moira Secondary School playing football, basketball and competing in shot put and discus.After High School he played 5 years at Wilfrid Laurier University as a Defensive End, defensive tackle, backup long snapper and backup punter. He finished his CIS career as a three time Laurier linemen of the year mvp two time OUA first team all star and first team All Canadian in his final year. He was team captain in 2003 and played in 3 Yates cup championship. He was drafted by the Hamiton Tiger Cats in 2004.
Coach Shakes started coaching in 1999 in the BMFL. He was a Dline coach for the Guelph Varsity Bears in 2003 in the OVFL. From there he was a player coach in the NFC for the Kingston Privateers for three years. He was an assistant coach for the Loyalist Lancer women basketball team for two years. In 2005 he coached the Bayside secondary school team and then landed at Moira secondary school coaching Jr defence from 2006 2011 where they won two COSSA championships and one National Capital Bowl championship. He then went on to start a football program at St. Theresa's where they won a Jr Bay of Quinte championship in their second year and went to two COSSA championships one at Jr and one at Senior. He was an assistant coach with the Skyhawks in 2019. Coach Shakes and his wife Erin have three kids Evelyn, Tess and Sullivan.
MARK MCFAUL - Head Coach U16
Mark McFaul joined the Skyhawk’s in their inaugural season as one of the team’s Defensive Coaches. He is a respected leader and mentor and brings years of coaching experience.Coach McFaul began coaching high school football in 2005 and has coached at both the junior and senior level over that time.
Coach McFaul has held the position of Defensive Coordinator since 2010 at Centennial and has provided oversight to one of the most productive defenses in the league. Winning several Bay of Quinte Championships over that time and the 2018 COSSA Championship.Coach McFaul expanded his coaching portfolio to include the Belleville Chargers Minor football team in 2013, because he believes the future of football starts with the kids teaching strong fundamentals and a passion for the game.Coach McFaul’s love for football began when he played defense with the Centennial Chargers in Belleville and with Nepean Norseman U17.
AARON LISCOMBE - Head Coach U14
Football and leading youth are some of the most important things to me in my life. Over the last 15 years I’ve had multiple careers working with youth in a variety of ways including Youth Employment counsellor, Youth Worker for at risk youth and now a grade 8 teacher with the Hastings and Prince Edward School Board. It has always been my passion to see young people grow into the best version of themselves. As a coach, I have worked alongside some of Belleville’s best coaches. I’ve coached at Quinte Secondary as a DBs coach, Bayside Minor football as a Defensive coach, and last year as the U14 Skyhawks Defensive Coordinator.
I have been a part of the Skyhawks Executive board for the last 2 years and have the responsibility to oversee youth football (14 and under).I look forward to the challenge of being the Head Coach of this years U14 Skyhawks team. I will be working alongside very talented coaches and players striving for the goal of growth and winning the OSFL.
PETER "GABES" GABRIEL - RECEIVERS COACH
Coach Gabes began his football playing days as a Frontenac Falcon. Under one the greatest coaches in Eastern Ontario, Coach Berk Brean, Gabes started his football journey in grade 9 and quickly excelled as a running back/full back, winning 3 championships and being named once as the rookie of the year and twice as the MVP, once in the jr program and in his final year at Frontenac as a senior.
Scouted by many schools, Coach Gabes played for the Carleton Ravens in the early 90's. Being a versatile athlete, Gabes played many positions including fullback, TE, OL and special teams. In his first year he was able to play on special teams and became a starter in his second year!
After University Coach Gabes began to give back to his community by coaching at the high school level. After a few years in Kingston and then moving out west, Coach Gabes and his family settled in Belleville in 2003. Coach Gabes began his coaching career in Belleville as an assistant coach at Quinte Secondary. He moved into the role as Offensive Coordinator where he continues to coach to this day. He has also been involved with the Minor Football Program as well, coaching at the Bantam level. He has run numerous camps both at the grassroots level as well as the elite level challenging kids to reach there full potential.
Coach Gabes is extremely passionate about football and giving back to his community. His passion drives athletes to perform at their highest level. He loves paying it forward and excited about the opportunity that has been given to this community.
DUANE "LAMBO" LAMBERT - DEFENSIVE LINE COACH
Coach Lambo is very excited to be joining the Skyhawks football program, it is truly beginning next level football to the young men and women of the Quinte and surrounding area. Dwayne haas been involved with football as a player or a coach from the age of fourteen and have a true passion for it. Dwayne played highschool football at CHSS and then played university football at McGill.
Coaching for over 28 years , Dwayne has been involved with the minor league program in Belleville and at the high school level, both junior and senior programs. One of the things Dwayne enjoys most about coaching is learning from his fellow coaches and passing on his passion for the game to the athletes.
While at MSS Coach Lambo had the honour of being involved with two teams that participated in and won the National Capital Bowl. Dwayne is a multi-sport coach, coaching some of the top athletes in rugby, wrestling and football. Coach looks forward to working with some of the best football coaches in the area to grow and learn from them. Let's get ready to work.
RICK ELLIOT - RUNNING BACK COACH
Coach Rick started his playing career at CSS in 1980. After a very successful high school career at running back, Rick continued his football journey at Acadia University where he played running back for the Axemen for 5 years, with being awarded as a member of the Hall of Fame team in 1986.
After coming back to the Quinte area, Rick began to put his roots down as a coach. Over the past 31 years Rick has coached High School junior & Senior football and was one of the original members of bringing Belleville Minor Football to the Quinte area.
MIKE MACDONALD - OFFENSIVE LINE COACH
Coach Mike MacDonald recently retired from the University of Guelph Gryphons football program after serving 12 years as the Offensive Line Coach. He capped off his coaching career in U Sports this past season by being selected the OUA and USPORTS National Volunteer/Assistant Coach of the Year for 2021. Coach MacDonald has coached numerous offensive lineman at Guelph who have gone on to pro careers in the Canadian Football League after OUA All Star and All Canadian careers at Guelph.
He also has six years coaching experience as the Offensive Line Coach at Notre Dame HS in Burlington, Ontario and 17 years coaching in the Burlington Stampeders Rep Program as a Head Coach and Offensive Line coach. He has served as an O-Line coach for Team Ontario and many All Star teams. He is known as a strong motivator and teacher. He received the Ontario Football Alliance Senior Coach of the Year award in 2007. Coach MacDonald has won three Ontario Tier 1 Provincial High School Championships and nine Provincial Rep Football Championships.
He has a BSc. in Kinesiology from the University of Waterloo where he played football and was the Team Captain. He is a retired member of the RCMP having served for 27 years in various parts of Canada.
Coach MacDonald and his wife Anne Marie, who also recently retired, moved to Prince Edward County in 2020. Coach Mike was born and raised in Belleville and attended Quinte Secondary School where is he played football and basketball for the Saints.
DAVE JOHNSON - OFFENSIVE LINE COACH
Coach Johnson started his playing days at Huron Heights Secondary School in Newmarket Ontario, playing football and rugby.After High School he attended York University in Toronto, playing 5 years for the Yeomen (now Lions) from 1996-2000 on the offensive line and special teams.
Coach Johnson has been an assistant coach with the former Quinte Secondary School senior football team from 2001-2005. He was also an assistant and later head coach with the Centre Hastings minor football Centurions for the last 8 years.
Coach Johnson is a great addition to our coaching staff with our boys in the trenches!
BRADEN HART - LINEBACKER COACH
Coach Hart began his football career at the age of fourteen playing in the Thousand Island Minor Football League for the Loyalist Mavericks, as a defensive end. At the end of the season he was awarded the Defensive MVP Award. He continued football into high school at Napanee District Secondary School in Napanee Ontario where he had a positional change to a linebacker. By grade ten Coach Hart was awarded the Defensive MVP Award for his Jr. N.D.S.S. team. In the tenth grade Coach Hart also appeared in Fox 40 Prospect Challenge Team East. He also took part in the Canadian Football Institute (CFI) training camps at this point.
By grade eleven, Coach Hart transferred schools to St. Joseph Catholic High School in Ottawa Ontario to partake in the Football North Program. He also participated with Team Ontario in the International Bowl of that year as a linebacker. The summer going into the twelfth grade, Coach Hart represented Team Ontario in the Football Canada Cup in Calgary. Hart was named as a Canada Cup Allstar, earning him a position on the Canadian national team.
By his senior year in high school, Coach Hart was back at Napanee District High School winning the Leroy Blugh Award (Team MVP). During this time, he also represented The Team Canada U18 National Team in the International Bowl in Texas. After visiting schools Hart decided to sign with the York University Lions Varsity Football Team as a linebacker.
Coach Hart is a current player on York University Lions Varsity football team and is continuing to build his football resume as he looks forward to working with the Quinte Skyhawks.
KAELEN FRASER - Offensive Coach
Kaelan has played both at the high school and at the Varsity level for the Kingston Grenadiers.For the past four high school seasons Kaelan Fraser was the offensive line coach and co-offensive coordinator at Centennial Secondary School, contributing to three Bay of Quinte championships and one COSSA championship.
He also held the same position for the SWE Chargers for the past three seasons with the Belleville Minor Football League. Kaelen spent last season with the Skyhawks and believes that football can be used to teach young men the value of hard work, discipline, accountability, honour, and teamwork.
ANNEL "CARB" CARBALLO - U16 OC/RB COACH
Annel played football at Hill Park Secondary School in Hamilton. He played Running back/fullback as well as linebacker and safety high school. Continuing his football journey he also played in the OVFL for the Niagara Colts in 99 and for the Halton Invictas in 2001.
In 2000 Annel started coaching high school football in at Hill Park Secondary.He served as Offensive coordinator until 2004. He also coached Special teams for the Halton Invictas in 2002 and offensive coordinator in 2004. He served as a medic through 2 tours in Afghanistan. He was then posted to Petawawa from 2006 until 2014. During that time in Petawawa He coached at Fellowes High school as a Defensive coordinator. In 2014 he was posted to Trenton and continued to serve in the military until February 2018. During his time in Trenton he continues to coach High school at Trenton High school.
MIKE BELL - DEFENSIVE BACK COACH
Mike is very proud to have been raised in the Quinte area. Growing up as a student/athlete, raising a family, owning a business and proudly supporting our community in many ways including coaching. Playing 5 years high school football, scouted and playing with an Ottawa Rep team for 1 year, all as a defensive corner.
Coaching as a defensive junior and minor league coach for the past 7 years totalling 13 seasons including championships in both leagues. Although wins are secondary to teaching and growing both as individuals and players. Mike is a dedicated believer in never ending learning for coaches as well as players and is excited to help at this higher level of football.
BILLY MCPHEE - QUARTERBACK COACH
Billy recently moved to the Belleville area and will be coaching quarterbacks in both JV and Varsity
He played 5 years at Queen’s University from 2010-14 where he was a Yates Cup finalist and finished his career 2nd in all time passing yards at Queen’s. He attended the CFL combine and was also a part of the Quarterback intern program with the Hamilton Tiger Cats. Billy is going to be great asset to our program developing young quarterbacks to be successful at the provincial level.
CARTER STEPHENS- QUARTERBACK COACH
My experience includes a decade of experience in the sport between playing as a Quarterback and as a coach. My playing career consisted of time in the US playing against top 500 ranked high schools. Continued as the starting Quarterback for the U18 Team Ontario squad representing Canada in the 2020 International Bowl. My career continued as a Quarterback at the University of Waterloo and finished as the Quinte Skyhawks U22 CJFL Quarterback. I now am looking to share my knowledge with the younger generations of Skyhawks as an offensive coach.FL Skyhawks. He enjoys working with young athletes to set the foundation for fundamentals to be built upon.
DAN VAN HOEK- DEFENSIVE LINE COACH
Dan is a Napanee native and played high school football at NDSS. He followed his kids into minor football, coaching the Napanee Mavericks. He has coached at the U16 level as coaching the dline at the U22 with the CJFL Skyhawks. He enjoys working with young athletes to set the foundation for fundamentals to be built upon.
**MORE COACHES BEING ANNOUNCED SOON**