One look at Stevenson Bone's first coaching staff as head coach of Golden Bears Football and it is abundantly clear — the staff is chalked full of champions. Either as players themselves or coaches, this group has won, and won a lot. 

On Monday, Bone announced the 2025 Golden Bears staff, which includes a combined four Grey Cup Championships, three Vanier Cups, nine conference titles, seven U SPORTS semifinal bowl game wins, and multiple high school and CEGEP Provincial titles.

"The theme is getting coaches here who are proven winners," said Bone, who took over as head coach of the Bears on January 16th. "Whether it's Vanier Cups, Grey Cups, Orange Bowls, Mitchell Bowls, Hardy Cups or High School. I wanted to retain and have people who have won championships to be around our players. It's that culture and mindset we want to set with our student-athletes."

Among Bone's staff will be Smith Wright (Assistant Head Coach/Director of Football Ops), A.J. Gass (Special Teams Coordinator), and Jordan Liberman (Defensive Backs), who will return to the Golden Bears this fall, providing continuity to the 110 football student-athletes.

New coaches include Grey Cup Champion Almondo Sewell (Defensive Line), Vanier Cup Champion and CFL Alumni Jean-Gabriel Poulin (Defensive Coordinator), former NFL receiver Marcus Henry (Receivers), four-time Canada West Champion Jordan Filippelli (Offensive Line), and 2023 Hardy Cup Champion Josh Martin (Run Game Coordinator). 

Bone himself won a Vanier Cup with Western in 2017 as a student-athlete, winning the 2023 Hardy Cup and Mitchell Bowl's as the UBC Offensive Coordinator. 

The Golden Bears will start training camp in early August, with the 2025 Canada West season beginning on August 30th. 
 

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ASSISTANT HEAD COACH/DIRECTOR OF FOOTBALL OPERATIONS & RECRUITING – SMITH WRIGHT

Playing Career

• Alberta Golden Bears Football (2009-14)
  • Fullback / Running backs
• Alberta Golden Bears Track & Field (2009-13)
  • Weight Throw/Shot Put
  • 2012 Canada West Silver Medal (Shot Put)

Coaching Career

• Alberta Golden Bears (2014-Present)
  • Running backs/Strength Coach (2014-2023)
  • Assistant Head Coach / Running back coach (2024)
  • Coached Golden Bears such as Hec Crighton winner Ed Ilnicki, and Canada West MVP Matthew Peterson. 

Head Coach Stevenson Bone:
"Coach Wright is an exceptional leader and mentor who has a remarkable ability to develop young men into outstanding football players. As the longest-tenured coach on our staff and a proud former Golden Bear, he brings a deep-rooted connection to our alumni and a profound passion for this program. His legacy as an outstanding player for Alberta has seamlessly transitioned into his role as an outstanding coach. I consider myself incredibly fortunate to have Coach Wright already on our coaching staff, and I'm excited to work closely with him. Additionally, Coach Wright will continue to lead our Golden Bear strength and conditioning program, where his expertise and dedication are invaluable."
 

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SPECIAL TEAMS COORDINATOR – A.J. GASS

Playing Career (Linebacker)

• Fresno State Bulldogs (1993-97)
  • Two-time First-Team All-Conference Linebacker (1996 & 1997)
• Edmonton Eskimos (1998-07)
  • Played 10 seasons with Edmonton
  • Two-time Grey Cup Champion (2003 & 2005)
  • Served as a team captain and defensive leader

Coaching Career

• Edmonton Eskimos (2008-09) – Defensive Assistant
• Servite High School (2010-14) – Assistant Coach, Coordinator, & Varsity Head Coach
  • Led one of the top-ranked high school football programs in the USA
• Garces Memorial High School (2015-2018) – Head Coach
• Edmonton Elks (2019-20) – Special Teams Coordinator
• Alberta Golden Bears (2021-Present)

Head Coach Stevenson Bone:
"When building our staff, I wanted a special teams coordinator who already knew our 110 student-athletes and had experience leading units at the CFL level. Special teams success is about relentless effort and attention to detail, and A.J. brings both in spades. His leadership and expertise will help us set the standard for special teams play in the country."
 

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DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR – JEAN-GABRIEL POULIN

Playing Career (Linebacker)

• Blizzard Séminaire Saint-François (2010)
  • Won a Quebec high school championship
• Vanier College Cheetahs (CEGEP) (2012)
  • 2012 Bol d'Or Champion
  • RSEQ All-Star
• Western Mustangs (2014-17)
  • Two-time U SPORTS All-Canadian
  • 2017 OUA & Uteck Bowl Champion
  • 2017 Vanier Cup Champion
• Montreal Alouettes (2018-21)
  • Selected 23rd overall (3rd round) in the 2018 CFL Draft
  • Played four seasons as a linebacker in the CFL

Coaching Career

• Collège Bourget Voltigeurs (2021-24) – Head Coach & Defensive Coordinator
  • Led the Voltigeurs to three provincial championship appearances in four years
  • Won Quebec Provincial title in 2021
• Alberta Golden Bears (2025 - Present) – Defensive Coordinator

Head Coach Stevenson Bone:
"This is a major win for the University of Alberta. J.G. is a high-character person and an outstanding coach. He has been a champion at every level — high school in Quebec, CEGEP at Vanier College, and at Western, where he won a Vanier Cup. When building this coaching staff, I wanted someone who could connect with our players and help us recruit at a national level. J.G. checks all the boxes. His ability to create a positive culture is second to none, and few people work as hard as he does to be successful. I'm excited to see him lead our defense in the Evergreen & Gold."
 

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DEFENSIVE LINE COACH – ALMONDO SEWELL

Playing Career (Defensive Line)

• Akron Zips (2006-10)
• Edmonton Eskimos (2011-19)
  • 2015 Grey Cup Champion
  • Seven-time West Division All-Star
  • Six-time CFL All-Star
  • Ranks fifth all-time in franchise history with 60 sacks
• Montreal Alouettes (2021-23)
  • 2023 Grey Cup Champion

Coaching Career

• Edmonton Elks (2024) – Defensive Line Coach
• Alberta Golden Bears (2025-Present) – Defensive Line Coach.

Head Coach Stevenson Bone:
"Almondo is a proven winner and one of the most dominant defensive linemen in CFL history. He has experience playing and coaching at the professional level and brings a wealth of knowledge to our program. More importantly, he knows what it takes to compete at a championship level and will demand that from our players every day. We're excited to have him coaching our defensive line."
  

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RECEIVERS COACH – MARCUS HENRY

Playing Career (Receiver)

• Kansas Jayhawks (2004-07)
  • 2008 Orange Bowl Champion
  • 2008 Big 12 Champion
  • Standout senior season included 54 receptions, 1,014 yards, and 10 touchdowns
• New York Jets (2008-09)
  • Drafted 171st overall (6th round) by the New York Jets
• Carolina Panthers (2010)
• Edmonton Eskimos (2011-13)
• Ottawa Redblacks (2014-15)
• Montreal Alouettes (2016)
  • CFL career totals of 165 receptions, 2,164 receiving yards, and six touchdowns

Coaching Career

• Edmonton Huskies (2019-24) – Offensive Coordinator & Receivers
• Alberta Golden Bears (2025-Present) – Receivers Coach

Head Coach Stevenson Bone:
"Marcus has played at the highest levels in football and knows exactly what it takes to develop elite receivers. From catching touchdowns in the Orange Bowl, catching passes from Brett Favre as a New York Jet, to competing in the CFL, he has seen and experienced it all. His background as an offensive coordinator also gives him a deep understanding of the passing game. Our receivers will benefit tremendously from his coaching, and I'm excited to have him on our staff."
 

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DEFENSIVE BACKS COACH – JORDAN LIBERMAN

Playing Career (Defensive Back)

• UBC Thunderbirds (1991-94)
  • 1992 Hardy Cup Appearance

Coaching Career

• Has a total of 35 years of coaching experience, including 18 at the collegiate level
• UBC Thunderbirds (2015-16) – Defensive Backs Coach
  • 2015 Vanier Cup Champion
  • 2015 Mitchell Bowl Champion
  • 2015 Hardy Cup Champion
• Simon Fraser University (2007-09, 2018-19) – Defensive Backs Coach
  • 2008 Hardy Cup Appearance
• Team BC (2013-14, 2016, 2019-22) – Defensive Coordinator & Defensive Backs Coach
• Notre Dame Secondary School (2019-22) – Defensive Coordinator & Defensive Backs Coach
• BC Provincial Football Association (2023) – Technical Director
• Alberta Golden Bears (2022-Present) – Defensive Backs Coach

Head Coach Stevenson Bone:
"Jordan is one of the most experienced and knowledgeable defensive backs coaches in the country. He has coached at nearly every level and has a long track record of developing elite players. What sets him apart is his ability to teach the game in a way that resonates with his players. He understands how to elevate their technique, their football IQ, and their confidence. Our defensive backs are in great hands with Coach Liberman leading them."

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OFFENSIVE LINE COACH – JORDAN FILIPPELLI

Playing Career (Offensive Line)

• Calgary Dinos (2012-17)
  • Four-time Hardy Cup Champion
  • 2013 & 2016 Mitchell Bowl Champion
  • Drafted by the Ottawa REDBLACKS 71st overall in the 2017 CFL Draft

Coaching Career

• UBC Thunderbirds (2018-19) – Offensive Line Coach
  • Coached Giovanni Manu & Theo Benedet, both now in the NFL with the Detroit Lions and Chicago Bears
• Bev Facey High School Falcons (2021-24) – Head Coach
• Team Alberta (2023-Present)
  • U-16 Offensive Line Coach (2023)
  • U-16 Head Coach (2024)
• Alberta Golden Bears (2025 - Present) – Offensive Line Coach

Head Coach Stevenson Bone:
"Jordan is one of the best offensive line coaches in Western Canada. Having someone with his experience in both Calgary and Edmonton was extremely important for our program. Originally from Sherwood Park, he's won championships at the U SPORTS level, coached future NFL and CFL talent, and played a key role in developing young athletes. His understanding of player development and Alberta football makes him a great fit for our staff. We're excited to have him leading our offensive line."
 

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ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF FOOTBALL OPS/RUN GAME COORDINATOR – JOSH MARTIN

Playing Career (Receiver)

• Livermore High School (California)
  • Team Captain
• UBC Thunderbirds (2019-21)

Coaching Career

• UBC Thunderbirds (2022-24) – Running Backs Coach/Graduate Assistant
  • 2023 Hardy Cup Champion
  • 2023 Mitchell Bowl Champion
• Team BC (2022-23) – Running Backs Coach
• Alberta Golden Bears (2025 - Present) – Run Game Coordinator

Head Coach Stevenson Bone:
"Josh is a young coach with a bright future. He's worked with some talented players and has done a great job helping them develop. His experience at UBC and with Team BC gives him a solid foundation, and he's eager to keep learning and growing. We're happy to have him leading our running backs and contributing to our run game."