• 2022 Canada West Coach of the Year
• 2024 Canada West Champions
Mark McConkey was named the University of Regina Rams’ interim head coach in February, 2020 and was officially announced as the program’s full-time head coach on Feb. 3, 2022.
The highlights of McConkey's tenure as head coach include winning 2022 Canada West Coach of the Year honours as well as guiding the squad to its second Canada West championship and an appearance in the Mitchell Bowl during the 2024 season.
His long association with the Rams began in 2007 when he joined the team as a receiver out of Lord Beaverbrook High School in Calgary. After his fine playing career wrapped up in 2013, he taught for two years at Greenall High School in Balgonie, Sask. before returning to the Rams in 2015 as the team’s offensive coordinator, quarterbacks coach, and academic coach.
After being elevated to interim head coach in 2020, McConkey guided the squad through the COVID season and the pandemic-shortened 2021 campaign. The highlight of his interim stint came in the Rams’ home opener against Calgary, pulling out a 34-21 win over a Dinos team which had entered the game ranked No. 1 in the nation. McConkey’s second season as head coach saw him the Rams collect a 5-3 record to finish second in the 2022 Canada West standings and earn a home playoff game. His storybook fourth season featured the Rams sneaking into the playoffs with a 3-5 record, then toppling both Manitoba and Saskatchewan on the road in the playoffs to win the Canada West title.
Since McConkey became the team’s head coach in 2020, the Rams have had five different players earn All-Canadian status including Anthony Bennett, Tanner Schmekel, Ryder Varga, Jaxon Ford, and Aldo Galvan. Varga was named the 2022 Canada West Defensive Player of the Year, while Owen Sieben earned 2023 Canada West Rookie of the Year honours. The Rams have claimed a total of 12 Canada West all-stars during that time.
The Rams have also had 14 players selected in the CFL Draft since McConkey took over in 2020 including first-round selections Theren Churchill (2020) and Anthony Bennett (2023). Andrew Becker (2020), Robbie Lowes (2021), Kyle Borsa (2021), Ryder Varga (2022), Joel Braden (2022), Riley Boersma (2022), Jaxon Ford (2023), Josh White (2023), Tanner Schmekel (2023), D’Sean Mimbs (2024), Jackson Sombach (2024), and Connor Klassen (2025) were also drafted.
Highlighting the list of accomplishments during McConkey’s tenure as offensive coordinator was the selection of Noah Picton as the recipient of the 2016 Hec Crighton Trophy, awarded annually to the top player in Canadian university football.
As a player, McConkey remains one of the top receivers in University of Regina Rams history. He redshirted the 2007 season and immediately jumped in as a key member of the team’s offence as a first-year player in 2008. His best statistical season was in 2010, setting career highs in both receptions (45) and receiving yards (509). After missing almost the entire 2012 campaign due to injury, McConkey collected 180 receptions in his career – a mark which stood as the most in Canada West history until U of R teammate Jared Janotta set a new standard the following season. McConkey was a Canada West all-star in 2011 and earned Academic All-Canadian status in his final season with the Rams. He’s also still seventh in the U of R record book with 1991 career receiving yards.
McConkey, who graduated from the U of R with a Bachelor of Kinesiology in 2012 and with a Bachelor of Education in 2014, lives in Regina with his wife Taylor. They are the parents of two children, Owen and Ellie.
