Jean-Paul Circelli is the head coach of the Lancer Football program, and just the fifth coach in the Lancers 55-year history.
During the 2022 season, the Lancers clinched their first playoff berth in eight years and Circelli’s father Mike, was named the Gino Fracas Volunteer Coach of the Year at the national level.
Prior to joining the Lancers in 2019, the London, ON native had served as the offensive line coach of the Western Mustangs, where they had been among the national leaders in scoring, rushing and total yards. He has helped 15 Mustang offensive linemen become OUA conference all-stars and seven of those players were also recognized as U SPORTS all-Canadians. During his time coaching at Western, the Mustangs captured two straight Yates Cup OUA championships, made back-to-back Vanier Cup appearances, winning the Vanier Cup title in 2017.
In addition to coaching at Western University, Circelli was also the head coach of the London Jr. Mustangs varsity team in the OPFL from 2017-2018. There, he led the Jr. Mustangs to back-to-back Ontario Provincial Football League Varsity Championships going 21-0 over the course of two seasons. In seven years coaching with the London Junior Mustangs program, they captured four provincial titles at either the varsity or junior varsity levels. Circelli also coached with Team Ontario at the U18 level for three years from 2017-2019.
A life-long educator and learner, Circelli is a certified competition development coach within the National Coaching Certification Program and recently completed his Advanced Coaching Diploma within the Canadian Sport Institute. Circelli was also a high school teacher for eleven years with the London District Catholic School Board. In addition to his coaching experience, Circelli also enjoyed considerable success as a student-athlete. As an offensive lineman at McMaster University from 2001-05, he captured three consecutive Yates Cup championships and was named team captain in his senior year.
Circelli currently resides in Windsor with his family.
