Media Release: Wildcats Announce Coaching Change

The Edmonton Wildcat Football Club is pleased to introduce Darcy Park as their new Head Coach for the 2011 season. Coach Park succeeds Gary Durchik who indicated at the start of our 2010 season that this would be his last.

In 2002 the Wildcats recruited former CFL Head Coach Gary Durchik and gave him four objectives: elevate the teams’ attitude, develop the coaching staff and implement a succession plan, structure the player personnel to provide a balance of experience and provide success on and off the field. Coach Durchik more than ably accomplished all four objectives. In the last 5 regular seasons the Wildcats compiled an impressive 27-11-2 record with two trips to the Canadian Bowl, two Intergold Cups, two PFC Championships and two regular season first place finishes.

After coaching with the Edmonton Wildcats for 12 seasons, the last three as Assistant Head Coach, Darcy Park is well positioned, and experienced, to continue the Wildcat winning tradition. The 2011 season will be Coach Park’s 13th year with the Wildcats. He coached the Running Backs for the first seven seasons and in 2006 switched over to the defensive line. He has been the Special Teams Coordinator since the 2000 season and became the Assistant Head Coach in 2008. Coach Park graduated from Edmonton’s McNally High School and went to the New Mexico Military Institute (which played in the Western Junior College Conference), where he was named an Honorable Mention All American in 1993. He spent the rest of his eligibility with the University of Alberta under Head Coach Tom Wilkinson. In 1996 he was drafted by the Edmonton Eskimos, and in 1997 signed with the Saskatchewan Roughriders.

The Edmonton Wildcats Football Club extends heartfelt appreciation to Coach Durchik for his many years with the program and acknowledges and celebrates his successes. The Wildcats also welcome Coach Park to his new position and look forward to the continuation of the Wildcats tradition.