After nearly two decades with the Western Mustangs, one of the most prominent figures in U Sports football has announced his retirement.
Over the past 18 years, Greg Marshall has led the Western Mustangs to nine Yates Cup titles and two Vanier Cup wins, and on Wednesday, he announced that his time in London, Ont., has come to an end.
“I love what I do, but it’s the right time for me,” Marshall said. “I’ll have a chance to say my goodbyes and support the team through the transition before ending this chapter. I want to ensure I leave the Mustangs in a good spot.”
Marshall, 66, began his time at Western University not as a coach but as a student-athlete.
Marshall played fullback at the school from 1978-1982, where he earned the Yates MVP title in 1980. He was then drafted to the CFL, where he won the Grey Cup with Edmonton in 1982.
After knee injuries ended his career early, the Guelph, Ont., native returned to Western in 1985 to earn his Bachelor of Education, and he stayed with the Mustangs as an assistant coach and then offensive coordinator.
Following stints with the McMaster Marauders and the CFL's Hamilton Tiger-Cats, Marshall, who won back-to-back U Sports Coach of the Year in 2018 and 2019, returned to London in 2006.
As Marshall's time with the Mustangs comes to an end, he says he will continue to nurture the relationships that he has made at Western over the past two decades.
“You remember the wins, you remember the losses, but most of all, you remember the people. That’s not going away with retirement. I’ll still have this amazing network of friends, relationships I’ve developed through football, that will continue to grow.”
