Head Coach/Defensive Coordinator

Coach Shakes started his playing days in the Belleville Minor Football League in 1992.  From there he spent 5 years at Moira Secondary School playing football, basketball and competing in shot put and discus.

After High School he played 5 years at Wilfrid Laurier University as a Defensive End, defensive tackle, backup long snapper and backup punter.  He finished his CIS career as a three time Laurier linemen of the year mvp two time OUA first team all star and first team All Canadian in his final year. He was team captain in 2003 and played in 3 Yates cup championship. He was drafted by the Hamiton Tiger Cats in 2004. 

Coach Shakes started coaching in 1999 in the BMFL. He was a Dline coach for the Guelph Varsity Bears in 2003 in the OVFL. From there he was a player coach in the NFC for the Kingston Privateers for three years. He was an assistant coach for the Loyalist Lancer women basketball team for two years. In 2005 he coached the Bayside secondary school team and then landed at Moira secondary school coaching Jr defence  from 2006 2011 where they won two COSSA championships and one National Capital Bowl championship. He then went on to start a football program at St. Theresa’s where they won a Jr Bay of Quinte championship in their second year and went to two COSSA championships one at Jr and one at Senior. He was an assistant coach with the Skyhawks in 2019.

Coach Shakes and his wife Erin have three kids Evelyn, Tess and Sullivan.

Offensive Coordinator/Receivers Coach

Coach Gabes began his football playing days as a Frontenac Falcon. Under one the greatest coaches in Eastern Ontario, Coach Berk Brean, Gabes started his football journey in grade 9 and quickly excelled as a running back/full back, winning 3 championships and being named once as the rookie of the year and twice as the MVP, once in the jr program and in his final year at Frontenac as a senior.

Scouted by many schools, Coach Gabes played for the Carleton Ravens in the early 90’s. Being a versatile athlete, Gabes played many positions including fullback, TE, OL and special teams. In his first year he was able to play on special teams and became a starter in his second year!

After University Coach Gabes began to give back to his community by coaching at the high school level. After a few years in Kingston and then moving out west, Coach Gabes and his family settled in Belleville in 2003. Coach Gabes began his coaching career in Belleville as an assistant coach at Quinte Secondary. He moved into the role as Offensive Coordinator where he continues to coach to this day. He has also been involved with the Minor Football Program as well, coaching at the Bantam level. He has run numerous camps both at the grassroots level as well as the elite level challenging kids to reach there full potential.

Coach Gabes is extremely passionate about football and giving back to his community. His passion drives athletes to perform at their highest level. He loves paying it forward and excited about the opportunity that has been given to this community.

Defensive Line Coach

Coach Lambo is very excited to be joining the Skyhawks football program, it is truly beginning next level football to the young men and women of the Quinte and surrounding area.   Dwayne haas been involved with football as a player or a coach from the age of fourteen and have a true passion for it.  Dwayne played highschool football at CHSS and then played university football at McGill.   

Coaching  for over 28 years , Dwayne  has been involved with the minor league program in Belleville and at the high school level, both junior and senior programs.  One of the things Dwayne enjoys most about coaching is learning from his fellow coaches and passing on his passion for the game to the athletes. 

While at MSS Coach Lambo had the honour of being involved with two teams that participated in and won the National Capital Bowl. Dwayne is a multi-sport coach, coaching some of the top athletes in rugby, wrestling and football.  Coach looks forward to working with some of the best football coaches in the area to grow and learn from them.  Let’s get ready to work.

Assistant Offensive Coordinator/ Offensive Line Coach

Kaelan has played both at the high school and at the Varsity level for the Kingston Grenadiers.

For the past four high school seasons Kaelan Fraser was the offensive line coach and co-offensive coordinator at Centennial Secondary School, contributing to three Bay of Quinte championships and one COSSA championship.

He also held the same position for the SWE Chargers for the past three seasons with the Belleville Minor Football League. Kaelen spent last season with the Skyhawks and believes that football can be used to teach young men the value of hard work, discipline, accountability, honour, and teamwork.

Defensive Backs Coach

Coach James started his playing days at the age of 8 in the Louisiana Youth Football League. He then moved to Ottawa, Canada and played from the age of 11 to the age of 20 playing through the NCAFA for the Nepean Redskins winning multiple championships at different levels, as well he was given the opportunity to play for the Ottawa Sooners CJFL Football Team at the early age of 15, winning Ontario and Canadian championships. 

He continued to grow playing for both Team Ontario and for Team Canada for multiple years during his teens.

Additionally also played High School football for 5 years winning OFSAA twice. 

In his late teens James was presented with the opportunity to play for the Wolverines at the University of Michigan for a year until an unfortunate sports related injury. James had to end his career as a football player due to this injury. This experience allowed him to play with and learn from a variety of current and past NFL players also enrolled at the University of Michigan.

During his football career James has played Safety, Cornerback, Outside Linebacker and a variety of Special Teams positions.

As an individual who is not only passionate about football but also the local community, Coach James decided to give back to the team he grew up playing with and coached his NCAFA team at the Mosquito level for 2 years. James eventually moved to Belleville and was given to the opportunity to coach again joining the Skyhawks organization.

Running Backs Coach

Coach Rick started his playing career at CSS in 1980.  After a very successful high school career at running back, Rick continued his football journey at Acadia University where he played running back for the Axemen for 5 years, with being awarded as a member of the Hall of Fame team in 1986.

After coming back to the Quinte area, Rick began to put his roots down as a coach. Over the past 31 years Rick has coached High School junior & Senior football and was one of the original members of bringing Belleville Minor Football to the Quinte area.

We are so excited to have Coach Rick joining our staff, who has the history and knowledge of football in the quinte area.

Offensive Line Coach

Coach Johnson started his playing days at Huron Heights Secondary School in Newmarket Ontario, playing football and rugby.

After High School he attended York University in Toronto, playing 5 years for the Yeomen (now Lions) from 1996-2000 on the offensive line and special teams.

Coach Johnson has been an assistant coach with the former Quinte Secondary School senior football team from 2001-2005.  He was also an assistant and later head coach with the Centre Hastings minor football Centurions for the last 8 years.

Coach Johnson is a great addition to our coaching staff with our boys in the trenches!

Linebackers Coach

Coach Hart began his football career at the age of fourteen playing in the Thousand Island Minor Football League for the Loyalist Mavericks, as a defensive end. At the end of the season he was awarded the Defensive MVP Award.

He continued football into high school at Napanee District Secondary School in Napanee Ontario where he had a positional change to a linebacker. By grade ten Coach Hart was awarded the Defensive MVP Award for his Jr. N.D.S.S. team. In the tenth grade Coach Hart also appeared in Fox 40 Prospect Challenge Team East. He also took part in the Canadian Football Institute (CFI) training camps at this point.

By grade eleven, Coach Hart transferred schools to St. Joseph Catholic High School in Ottawa Ontario to partake in the Football North Program. He also participated with Team Ontario in the International Bowl of that year as a linebacker.

The summer going into the twelfth grade, Coach Hart represented Team Ontario in the Football Canada Cup in Calgary. Hart was named as a Canada Cup Allstar, earning him a position on the Canadian national team.

By his senior year in high school, Coach Hart was back at Napanee District High School winning the Leroy Blugh Award (Team MVP). During this time, he also represented The Team Canada U18 National Team in the International Bowl in Texas. After visiting schools Hart decided to sign with the York University Lions Varsity Football Team as a linebacker.

Coach Hart is a current player on York University Lions Varsity football team and is continuing to build his football resume as he looks forward to working with the Quinte Skyhawks.