Western Mustangs Football Head Coach Greg Marshall Reflects on Dr. Darwin Semotiuk – London | The Canadian News

Every Monday, Dr. Darwin Semotiuk stopped by Greg Marshall’s office and brought an apple to the head coach of the Western Mostangs football team.

“It was always crunchy honey,” says Marshall. “The best class”.

Week after week, season after season, win or lose, Monday came and so did the apple.

“I was in the middle of breaking down the movie for the next week and he would calm me down… it was special to have him in my life,” says Marshall.

Semotiuk passed away on January 4 at the age of 76.

As a coach, he led the Mustangs to two Vanier Cup titles. Semotiuk won college coach of the year honors in 1976.

Semotiuk stopped training in 1984 to become an athletic director at Western and held the position for 20 years.

“He taught us soccer, but he taught us much more than blocking and taking down,” describes Marshall. “He taught us how to be respectful and kind and how to treat people, how to be inclusive. It was incredible in that sense.

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Dr. Semotiuk worked very hard to improve the lives of others. He was heavily involved with the Special Olympics and the Ronald McDonald House along with countless other groups and events.

Semotiuk starred as an athlete in both basketball and soccer. He played for the Canadian men’s national basketball team and was drafted by the Calgary Stampeders of the CFL.

He was an international member of the American Academy of Kinesiology and Physical Education. Semotiuk’s research was extensive in areas such as sports and politics, Canadian public sports policy, and training.

He was named London Sportsman of the Year in 2014.

Knowing him would never tell you anything like that. His attention was always focused on others.

“This is how he acted,” admits Marshall, noting the impact Semotiuk had on so many people, athletes and colleagues alike. “He was the type of husband he was and the type of father. He was an incredible role model for all of us. “

Marshall credits Semotiuk’s ability to calm people and situations as fundamental.

“When Darwin got mad at you, he was very quiet. He almost whispered, ”says Marshall. “He had this reassuring presence on our team. But for someone who rarely raised his voice, he dominated the locker room. “

Marshall tells the story of being recruited by Semotiuk to go to the Western and play for the Mustangs.

“On the way home, my mom said, ‘I don’t know much about soccer, but I think you should go to Western.’ I’m pretty good at judging character and that is a special man and I know he will take care of you. ‘

From the way he contributed to his community, to the work he did to improve the sport, the athletes, and those around him, to the simplicity of bringing an apple to a coach, Dr. Semotiuk had the rare ability and gift to score. a real difference.

“For more than 40 years he took care of me,” explains Marshall. “He showed up with an apple and some good advice. Whether it was a good result on the weekend or a bad result on the weekend, he had that reassuring influence.

“I am very fortunate to have had the best coach, the best mentor and friend of my life.”