Coaching experience: 17 years

As a Cougar coach: 15 years

The 2019 season marked the return of coach Joncas as the head football coach of the Cougars. It was his 12th season as head coach of the Cougars. Jean-Francois and his family spent the last two seasons (’17-’18) at the University of Guelph in the OUA conference where he was their offensive coordinator. Coach Joncas helped the Gryphons attained the OUA final in 2018 and played a significant role in successfully recruiting the province of Quebec for them. Coach Joncas led an offense in 2018 that was ranked 2nd in the country for the most yards rushing in a season (1631 yards) and 2nd in the country for the best rushing average with 6.9 yards per carry.

In his first tenure with the Cougars, Jean-Francois spent 11 seasons as their head coach. JF led the Cougars to seven Bowl d’Or appearances (’06, ’08, ’09, ’12, ’13, ’14, 15) and won it in 2013 and 2015. JF and his coaching staff won the Coaching Staff of the year award in ’11, ’12 and ‘15. JF was also named the City of Sherbrooke Provincial Coach of the Year in ’09, ’13 and ’16. During his tenure at Champlain-Lennoxville, two of his former athletes ended up in the NFL, 15 played in the CFL, and 11 ended signing full scholarships with NCAA schools. Coach Joncas led the Cougars to seven Bowl d’Or finals (’06, ’08, ’09, ’12, ’13, ’14, ’15) and won the title in 2013, 2015 & 2019.

Other coaching stops for JF include serving as a member of the Team Quebec coaching staff that won the U17 Canada Cup in 2007 and 2008 and then the U18 championship title in 2012. He also served as the offensive line coach for the National Junior U19 team that won a gold medal at the world championship in China in 2016.

In his playing days as a Offensive Lineman (Center) at Laval University (1999-03), JF won two Vanier Cups (’99, ’03) and was named an all-conference player three times (‘01, ‘02, ‘03) and a CIS First Team All-Canadian in 2003. JF was a team captain during his senior year in ’03. Following University, he signed as a free agent with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and then the Ottawa Renegades of the Canadian Football League in 2004 and 2005.

Jean-Francois earned a Kinesiology degree (B. Sc.) from Laval University in ’02 and an MBA in Management from Laval University in ’04. He and his family live in Lennoxville. JF and his wife, Mireille, have three daughters: Charlotte, Juliette and Léa.