‘I missed being around football:’ Noah Picton joins Rams’ coaching staff

Noah Picton broke records as the quarterback of the University of Regina Rams.

Now he’s looking to help the next generation of the team’s quarterbacks reach their potential.

Picton, who is the U Sports all-time leading passer with 11,494 yards, was announced as the quarterbacks coach for the team on Wednesday.

“Part of it is that I missed the game. I missed being around football and the X’s and O’s,” Picton told the Green Zone with Jamie and Wheels on Friday. “Talking with (offensive co-ordinator) Mark McConkey, I thought I’d have some knowledge to pass on and something to offer and provide some value to the team.”

Picton played five seasons for the Rams after being redshirted in his first year. He was a two-time all-Canadian (2016, 2017) and was the 2016 Hec Creighton Award winner as the nation’s top university football player.

He finished his U of R career as the school’s all-time leader in completions (835) and was behind only Teale Orban in terms of passing touchdowns (71).

Despite all Picton’s accolades, the undersized quarterback wasn’t selected in the 2018 CFL draft. Picton was signed by the Toronto Argonauts but was released after training camp.

Picton admitted his opportunities to play professionally had completely dried up.

“When I was cut from Toronto last spring, it was a fairly smooth transition out of playing for me,” Picton said. “I knew eventually down the road I wanted to get back into coaching and it just turns out this was the year that I get back into it.”

He said he’ll be able to help the younger quarterbacks develop their game to succeed in the university ranks.

“In high school they may have got by with athleticism and arm talent but I think in the next level, you really need to understand defences — what they’re trying to stop and how to attack them,” Picton said.

The quarterback room for the Rams includes Josh Donnelly (who was a redshirt freshman in 2019) and Thomas Hyett (who was redshirted in 2019). It could also include veterans Colton Hippe (fourth year) and Seb Britton (third year).

The Picton family has had a long relationship with the Rams program, even when it was a junior football team. Picton also played alongside some of his cousins — receiver Mitch Picton, offensive lineman Aaron Picton and running back Blake Anaka.

“There’s a spot that the Rams hold in my heart and in my family’s history so I think it’s important to give back,” said Noah, whose dad Dean was a star quarterback for the junior Rams.

One of the things Noah Picton is looking forward to about patrolling the sidelines is that he’ll be able to help scheme together the offensive game plan for the week.

“That’s what I really enjoyed when I was playing and I think as a coach, obviously you don’t get to go on the field, so that’s where you really show your value is in those meeting rooms,” Picton said.

While coaching was something Picton has wanted to do, he admits it might not end up being his full-time career.

“I don’t want to say I’m dipping my toe because it seems like I’m half in and half out. I don’t have the ambition to coach professionally,” Picton said. “I’m very excited of where I’m at in the financial industry right now and where I’m working.

“I think to be able to give back to the University of Regina Rams program, a program that gave me so much, I’m doing what I can to help them out.”

The Rams finished the 2019 Canada West season with a 3-5 record and missed the playoffs.