GUELPH, Ont. - The Gryphon football program has added two new faces to their coaching staff. Matt Berry joins the Gryphons as the team's new defensive coordinator, while Joe Cappiello joins the University of Guelph football program to serve as the team's director of player personnel and defensive line coach. Matt Berry joins the Gryphons with 20 years of coaching experience to his name, including 12 standout seasons within U SPORTS as a member of the Calgary Dinos coaching staff. For Cappiello, he arrives at U of G with 15 years of experience, including 12 seasons of U SPORTS coaching experience at his alma mater, the University of Toronto.
Matt Berry - Defensive Coordinator
Matt Berry joins the Gryphon football program after a successful 12-year tenure in Alberta as a member of the Calgary Dinos football coaching staff. Berry spent the past two seasons serving as the Dinos assistant head coach and defensive coordinator, and over his decade-plus in Calgary, helped lead the Dinos to a sensational seven Canada West titles. Berry was also the defensive coordinator for the Dinos during the 2019 season, where the University of Calgary captured their fifth Vanier Cup in program history. Matt has also taken on a number of additional coaching roles over his career, including serving as a defensive line coach during the annual U SPORTS East-West Bowl on five occasions,
most recently in 2023.
"Matt brings a wealth of experience at the position," says
Mark Surya, who was named head coach of the University of Guelph football program in December of 2023. "He has won a Vanier Cup as a defensive coordinator and I'm excited to see him bring new ideas to the conference. The defence is in good hands, as Matt will fit seamlessly with our new associate head coach, Donnavan Carter, and our new director of player personnel, Joe Cappiello."
Berry's defensive mind has also garnered attention from the Saskatchewan Roughriders and Calgary Stampeders of the CFL, where he has served as a guest defensive line coach in training camp during the 2022 and 2017 seasons.
In addition to his time at the University of Calgary, Berry has served as the defensive coordinator of the Calgary Falcons of the Calgary Spring Football Association and assistant head coach/offensive coordinator of the U18 Nova Scotia provincial team during the 2012-13 season. Berry also brings international experience to Guelph after representing the AFC Bielefeld Bulldogs as defensive coordinator in the second tier of the German Football League.
As a student-athlete, Berry played four season for the Ottawa Gee-Gees where he was a Dunsmore Cup and Vanier Cup champion as a rookie during the 2000 season.
Coaching Bio - Matt Berry:
2022 - 2023: Assistant Head Coach & Defensive Coordinator, Calgary Dinos (Canada West)
2016 - 2022: Defensive Coordinator, Calgary Dinos (Canada West)
2013 - 2021: Recruiting Coordinator, Calgary Dinos (Canada West)
2013 - 2019: Operations Coordinator, Calgary Dinos (Canada West)
2012 - 2014: Defensive Coordinator, Calgary Falcons (CSFA)
2012 - 2013: Assistant Head Coach & Offensive Coordinator, Nova Scotia U18 Provincial Team
2011: Defensive Coordinator, AFC Bielefeld Bulldogs (German Football League - Tier 2)
2010-2016: Defensive Assistant, Calgary Dinos (Canada West)
Joe Cappiello - Director of Player Personnel and Defensive Line Coach
Joe Cappiello joins the Gryphons with 12 years of coaching and recruiting experience within the OUA, having served as the recruiting coordinator and defensive line coach for the University of Toronto Varsity Blues football program.
As recruiting coordinator, Cappiello has helped produce 17 OUA All-Stars and 7 U SPORTS All-Canadians in addition to coaching a defensive line which has seen three All-Stars and one All-Canadian go through the Varsity Blues program.
"Joe has been a staple, recruiting all of Canada for the better part of the last decade," says Gryphons head coach,
Mark Surya. "His warm personality will be a huge asset to the next generation of Gryphons. We are very lucky to have him lead the charge on our national recruiting strategy."
Capiello has been a long-time volunteer coach and has coached with Football Ontario, holding a variety of positions such as head coach, defensive coordinator, and defensive line coach. Cappiello also served as a program board member for the Toronto Junior Argonauts from 2008-2022. As a student-athlete, Cappiello played five seasons and started four as a defensive lineman with the Varsity Blues, which included a career-best season in 2010 as senior where he recorded a team-high 5 sacks and 16 solo tackles.
Coaching Bio:
2011 - 2023: Recruiting Coordinator & Defensive Line Coach, Toronto Varsity Blues (OUA)
2017 - 2023: Head Coach & Defensive Coordinator, Football Ontario
2008 - 2022: Head Coach & Program Board Member, Toronto Junior Argonauts
