Since its inception, the team has won 23 Yates Cup championships and four Vanier Cup championships, the most recent being in 2009. Unique to only two Canadian universities (the other being University of Toronto Varsity Blues), Queen's has also won three Grey Cup championships (1922, 1923, 1924).[1]
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Early history
Queen's has competed continuously since 1882[2] and the team began organized play in 1883 when the Ontario Rugby Football Union (ORFU) was first founded. The team later went on to win two ORFU championships in 1893 and 1894.[3]
The first organized university football league in Canada, the Canadian Intercollegiate Rugby Football Union (CIRFU), was founded in Kingston in November 1897, with charter members Queen's, McGill University, and the University of Toronto.
Since the beginning of the Vanier Cup championship in 1965, Queen's has won four titles in 1968, 1978, 1992 and 2009.[4]
Doug Hargreaves era
After playing for Frank Tindall from 1951 to 1955, Doug Hargreaves was picked to be his successor in 1976. Though Tindall left some big shoes to fill Hargreaves fill them and then even eclipsed them with his first 16 seasons making the playoffs, 13 of this seasons making the conference finals, with 8 of those seasons winning the conference title, 3 of those seasons playing in the Vanier cup final, with 2 Vanier cup championships (1978, 1992). After many years of success in 1993 and 1994 they missed the playoffs. Hargreaves decided to retire after the 1994 season. Hargreaves is remembered as a great coach who demanded excellence. The driveway leading up to the stadium is named Hargreaves way after Coach Hargreaves.
Bob Howes Era (1995–1999)
Originally just named as interim coach in 1995 but after leading the team to the Dunsmore cup (lost 8–3 to the Ottawa Gee Gees) was named head coach. Howes had a plethora of football knowledge as being a 5-time grey cup champion and being a long time assistant to Doug Hargreaves. With a decent staff that saw many holdovers from the Hargreaves era including legendary defensive co-ordinator Bob Mullen. He also had his son Beau Howes as his starting quarterback. The first three years of Howes Campaign were very successful with 3 playoff appearances and two trips to the Dunsmore (1995, 1997) though losing both. They technically have a ceremonial Dunsmore cup victory in 1997 as U Ottawa was found to have ineligible players and their season was forfeited. After the 1997 season though was the end of the success for the Howes staff. The 1998 and 1999 campaigns failed to make the playoffs and thus ended the Howes era.
Pat Sheahan era (2000–2018)
The team was led by head coachPat Sheahan from 2000 to 2018. His first year was a difficult one only mustering a 1–7 season. However, in the off-season he recruited a nucleus of talent including future two-time Hec Creighton trophy winner QB Tommy Denison (Qb #7 2001–2003). With Denison leading the way Sheahan would coach them to a Yates cup appearance in 2002. Though he returned Queens back to a respectable team, Sheahan's teams quarterbacked by Denison never were able to win the Vanier. However, his next star quarterback recruit would be and that was Danny Branagan (Qb # 5 2005–2009). With Branagan he led them to their fourth Vanier Cup in 2009. The following year the team endured a difficult 2010 season, finishing 3–5. The team went on to have strong seasons in 2011, 2012, and 2013, with two semi-final finishes and culminating with a Yates Cup berth; unfortunately, they would lose to Western 51–22. The next season after 8 straight playoff campaigns was ended in 2014 when the Gaels failed to make the playoffs. The team finished fourth in the OUA in 2015, being beaten by the Carleton Ravens in the semi-final game. 2016 saw a new stadium built in the place of the old Richardson with a brand new turf field, jumbotron, and 8000 seats. The team finished in seventh place in 2016 with a 3–5 record and missed the playoffs due to a tie-breaker with Guelph, whom they lost to earlier in the season. 2017 was the last playoff appearance in the Sheahan Era which ended ina quarterfinal loss to McMaster.
In 2019, Sheahan was dismissed as head coach after a disappointing 2018 campaign.
Steve Snyder era (2019–present)
Steve Snyder took over the team in 2019. In 2021, he led the team to a perfect regular season in the OUA and a berth into the Yates Cup Final (which they lost to Western 29–0). Steve was named OUA and U SPORTS Coach of the Year in 2021. Snyder's era has seen a youth movement on the coaching staff, and a revitalized interest in football in the community, hence the back-to-back hosting of the Vanier cup in 2023 and 2024. 3 straight top four finishes has shown the success Snyder has brought to the program with his own personal touch.
Frank Tindall began coaching the Queen's Gaels football team in 1939, following his playing career with the Toronto Argonauts.[5] Tindall was known as the primary driving force for the success of the team during this era and was well known around Kingston at this time.[6]
His total records and accomplishments include 196 games (112 wins, 84 losses), with one Vanier Cup (1968), 8 Yates Cups (1955, 1956, 1961, 1963, 1964, 1966, 1968, 1970) and 10 Yates Cup appearances (1960 and 1962 being losses).
Doug Hargreaves (1976–1994)
Doug Hargreaves took over as head coach in 1976, returning to the team where he previously was a player from 1951 to 1955.
Hargreaves had a total regular season record of 110 wins, 59 losses and 3 tied games, with 2 Vanier Cup championships (1978 and 1992), 3 Vanier Cup Appearances (lost in 1983), 2 Churchill Bowl championships (1983 and 1992), 5 Churchill Bowl Appearances (1979, 1989 and 1991 being losses), 1 Atlantic Bowl championship (1978), 4 Atlantic Bowl Appearances (losses in 1977, 1981 and 1984), 2 Yates Cup championships (1977, 1978), 6 Dunsmore Cup championships (1981, 1983, 1984, 1989, 1991 and 1992), 3 Yates Cup appearances (loss in 1979), 10 Dunsmore Cup appearances (losses in 1980, 1982, 1988 and 1990) and 16 playoff appearances.
Bob Howes (1995–1999)
Bob Howes was a former CFL player for the Edmonton Eskimos as well as a former Queen's football team player from 1962 to 1965.[7] He began the head coaching position in 1995.
With the Gaels, Howes had a regular season record of 45 total games (playoff and regular season combined), 21 wins to 19 losses, with a playoff record of 2–3 with 2 Dunsmore Cup appearances and 3 OQIFC playoff appearances.
Pat Sheahan (2000–2018)
Pat Sheahan came on board as the head coach in 2000, after 11 years as coach for the Concordia Stingers, where he also was a former player.
His regular season record had a total of 90 wins and 62 losses, with a playoff record of 12 wins and 12 losses. He led the team to 1 Vanier Cup championship (2009), 1 Mitchell Bowl (2009), 1 Yates Cup (2009), with 3 Yates Cup appearances (losses in 2002 and 2013) and 13 total OUA playoff appearances. In total, he had 176 games as head coach.
Steve Snyder (2019–present)
Steve Snyder was brought on in 2019[8] as the head coach, with previous experience coaching the Western Mustangs.[9]
As of 2024, he has a regular season record of 26 wins - 12 losses and a playoff record of 6 wins - 4 losses. He has brought the team to 2 Yates Cup appearances (2021, 2022) and 4 playoff appearances (2023 semifinal finish), with 48 total games coached to date.
Season-by-season record
The following is the record of the Queen's Gaels football team since 1981:
