Finding his stride
For a 13-year veteran and two-time Grey Cup champion centre for the Montreal Alouettes, Bryan Chiu doesn’t come across as intimidating as one might expect. It wasn’t his hulking 6-foot-2-inch, 300-pound frame that made the first impression – it was his extraordinary neighbourly demeanor.
I can only guess, but I’d bet he wasn’t as friendly in an Als uniform to those lining up on the field against him. All the same, I never met him in his former job – one that saw him retire from the pros in June with a reputation as the finest offensive lineman in recent memory. I met him as the Concordia Stingers’ new offensive line coach and coordinator.
“It’s been a drastic change for me,” says Chiu. “I went from putting four and a half hours a day as a player to 15 or 16 as a coach. My wife doesn’t like it very much right now, but for me I’m very passionate about this game.”
It’s a passion that is immediately apparent. As we take in the field from the bleachers at Concordia Stadium, Chiu wastes no time sharing insight into his new role.
“Our strength is that we are a young team, but we have some seasoned veterans,” including QB Rob MacKay and slotback Liam Mahoney. With a solid start to the season, Chiu is taking the long view, demonstrating his veteran wisdom. “What we need to do is grow, get better, and gel at the right time. It’s a journey, but we have to figure out what kind of team we really are.”
Aside from the extended hours, he’s adjusting well to the shift from the pro to the university’s system.
“The number one thing to remember is these aren’t professional athletes; they are student athletes and here to get a degree,” he says. “[Head Coach Gerry] McGrath and I stress that not all these guys will be pro football players, but they all have the opportunity to be university graduates. What we’re teaching them is life skills to help them succeed in life.”
Chiu is quite vocal about another side of his new life: the opportunity to recover from his injuries. Thirteen years will test the resiliency of anyone in his position, and, boy, Chiu was tested – six knee surgeries, shoulder surgery, elbow surgery, torn tendons. “The list just keeps going and going,” he says.
“At the end of the day, it’s about being healthy and functional for my wife, my son and my daughter. I got to the point where my injuries were limiting that kind of stuff. I would say I retired because of my family.”
He tells me how happy he is to be able to remain in Montreal. He had no intention of leaving when he hung up his cleats, he says, but to the Vancouver native, Concordia has provided the chance to get to know his home even better.
“I don’t regret the fact that I retired. Coming to Concordia was the best decision I ever made. I’m so happy to be part of this team,” Chiu says, citing the working relationship he’s built over the years with McGrath through the football community as one of the main reasons for accepting the job.
Looking away to give the field a hard stare, he lets his neighbourly demeanor drop, showing once again the fiercely competitive side that had him end his professional career with a Grey Cup hoisted above his head.
“Our expectations should be high and we all have to believe we can win the Vanier Cup,” he tells me.
Actually, right then, he looked his size.
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