RECRUITING AREAS: Connecticut, Western Massachusetts, Southeast Florida
Drew Canan is in his sixth season on Bob Chesney’s coaching staff in 2023, serving as the tight ends coach and special teams coordinator.
Canan has helped guide Holy Cross to four consecutive Patriot League championships and NCAA football championship subdivision berths.
In 2022, Holy Cross' special teams unit blocked eight punts, the most in the nation -- paced by Devin Haskins' Patriot League-record four blocked punts. Haskins earned All-America honors, and was one of four Crusaders (kicker Derek Ng, punter Patrick Haughney, return specialist Justin Shorter) to earn All-Patriot League accolades for special teams play. Tight end Sean Morris was also an All-Patriot League honoree, and long snapper Adam Guillemette was also selected in the 2023 Canadian Football League draft.
As a team, Holy Cross went 11-0 during the regular season for the third time in program history and first time since 1991. The 2022 Crusaders (12-1) recorded the most single-season wins in program history and advanced to the NCAA FCS quarterfinals for the first time since 1983; their lone loss on the campaign was a hard-fought playoff contest to top-seeded South Dakota State, the eventual national champions. Holy Cross finished the year with a No. 6 ranking among all FCS teams as a result of numerous marquee wins, including a Hail Mary victory against FBS foe Buffalo and an overtime win over nationally ranked Fordham; the Crusaders also earned their first win at Harvard since 2000 and defeated Harvard and Yale in the same season for the first time in program history.
In 2021, Holy Cross had four All-Patriot League honorees on special teams en route to earning its third straight Patriot League title and FCS playoff berth, with Holy Cross winning its first FCS playoff game in program history. Holy Cross had a 10-3 record and went undefeated (6-0) in conference play, finishing the year ranked 19th in the nation by Stats Perform. The Crusaders also defeated a football bowl subdivision opponent for the first time since 2002 with a season-opening victory over Connecticut on Sept. 4.
During the Spring 2021 season, delayed from the fall of 2020 due to COVID-19, four Crusaders on special teams earned All-Patriot League honors as Holy Cross won the first-ever Patriot League championship game.
In 2019, Canan helped the Crusaders to their first Patriot League championship in 10 years, and just the third NCAA FCS berth in program history. In addition, tight end Derek Mountain earned All-Patriot League honors. Following the season, Canan was named the New England Assistant Coach of the Year by the Gridiron Club of Greater Boston.
Previously in 2018 campaign, Canan led a special teams unit that set school single-season records with seven blocked kicks, six blocked punts and four blocked punts returned for touchdowns.
Canan came to Holy Cross from Assumption College, where he served as the wide receivers coach and special teams coordinator under Chesney from 2014-2017. He helped the Greyhounds to an overall record of 38-11 during that time, with three trips to the NCAA playoffs.
During his time at Assumption, Canan coached five wide receivers and four return specialists who earned All-Northeast-10 Conference honors, including 2016 Offensive Player of the Year Ashton Grant and 2017 Most Valuable Player Deonte Harris. His special teams unit also ranked in the top 10 in the country in blocked kicks in each of his four seasons, posting 12 in 2015 to lead the nation.
Prior to his time at Assumption, Canan served as the wide receivers coach and special teams coordinator at Endicott College from 2011-2013. He coached five all-conference receivers during that time while helping the team to the 2013 New England Football Conference championship. Canan was previously a graduate assistant at Endicott from 2008-2010, and the Gulls posted an overall record of 36-9, including a 25-3 mark in conference play, during his final four years on the staff.
Canan earned his bachelor’s degree from Johnson & Wales University in North Miami, Fla., in 2005. He went on to receive a master’s degree from Endicott in 2010.
Canan and his wife, Kerri, have one daughter (Kaia).
