University of Richmond Athletics
Winston October Named Wide Receivers Coach
01/21/2022 | Football
RICHMOND, Va. – University of Richmond football head coach Russ Huesman announced the hiring of former Spider and Richmond alum Winston October to the staff as the wide receivers coach. October has spent the past four years coaching in the Canadian Football League (CFL) and brings 15 years of college or professional coaching experience back to Richmond.
"We are excited to welcome back Winston October to the team," Huesman said. "He is a true Spider and knows what it means to be a part of this program. His experiences both as a player and a coach at the collegiate and professional levels will help our student-athletes immediately."
October has been the wide receivers coach and pass game coordinator for the Edmonton Elks since 2020. He spent two seasons (2018-19) with the Ottawa Redblacks as a receivers coach, including spending part of the 2019 season as a play caller. He was part of the Redblacks team that won the East Division Championship in 2018 and participated in the 106th Grey Cup Championship.
"It is a great time to be a Spider," October said. "I am honored to be an addition to Coach Huesman's staff. I look forward to doing my part in helping the current and future student-athletes be successful on and off the football field. Back in the web at the University of Richmond and it doesn't get any better."
Under his tutelage, the wide receivers group in 2018 combined for 389 receptions and almost 5,000 yards receiving. The group led the CFL in yards after catch (1,662), pass efficiency (70%) and receptions (389). He coached CFL All-Star Brad Sinopoli to a career-best 1,376 yards receiving and 116 receptions on his way to 2018 Most Outstanding Canadian Player Award.
Prior to the CFL, October spent four seasons coaching in the Colonial Athletic Association at William & Mary from 2014-17. He helped the Tribe win the 2015 CAA Championship and advance to the FCS Playoffs that year. His receivers caught 160 passes for 2,173 yards, highlighted by DeVonte Dedmon's All-Conference performance in 2015. October coached Dedmon the Touchdown Club of Richmond's Special Teams Player of the Year honor. Additionally, he coached All-CAA selection Tre McBride, who was a Tennessee Titans draft pick 2014. McBride was named the Touchdown Club of Richmond's Receiver of the Year in 2014.
October got his collegiate coaching experience started at VMI, coaching seven seasons with the Keydets (2007-13), spending five seasons as a wide receivers coach and two seasons as a cornerbacks coach in Lexington.
October was a defensive back for the Spiders program from 1994-98, earning All-Conference honors all four years. He was a First Team All-Atlantic 10 selection in 1998, Second Team All-A-10 in 1997 while earning Third Team All-Yankee Conference in both 1995 and 1996. He ranks fourth all-time in program history with 12 career interceptions and holds the program record with 112 punt returns in his career.
October played six years in the CFL, spending 1999-2000 with the Montreal Alouettes while being a member of the Edmonton Elks from 2001-04. He spent the 2001 season as part of the Washington in the National Football League. With Montreal, he returned two punts for touchdowns and a missed field goal 111 yards for a score in the 2000 season.
During his career with Edmonton, he returned four punts for touchdowns and had two seasons (2003, 2004) with over 1,000 kickoff return yards. Additionally, he saw time as a wide receiver with the Elks, posting 19 receptions for 196 yards in 2003. He was part of the 2003 Edmonton Grey Cup Championship team. When he finished his career, he was second all-time in Edmonton history in total punt return yardage, punt return touchdowns and kickoff return yardage in a season.
--UR—
"We are excited to welcome back Winston October to the team," Huesman said. "He is a true Spider and knows what it means to be a part of this program. His experiences both as a player and a coach at the collegiate and professional levels will help our student-athletes immediately."
October has been the wide receivers coach and pass game coordinator for the Edmonton Elks since 2020. He spent two seasons (2018-19) with the Ottawa Redblacks as a receivers coach, including spending part of the 2019 season as a play caller. He was part of the Redblacks team that won the East Division Championship in 2018 and participated in the 106th Grey Cup Championship.
"It is a great time to be a Spider," October said. "I am honored to be an addition to Coach Huesman's staff. I look forward to doing my part in helping the current and future student-athletes be successful on and off the football field. Back in the web at the University of Richmond and it doesn't get any better."
Under his tutelage, the wide receivers group in 2018 combined for 389 receptions and almost 5,000 yards receiving. The group led the CFL in yards after catch (1,662), pass efficiency (70%) and receptions (389). He coached CFL All-Star Brad Sinopoli to a career-best 1,376 yards receiving and 116 receptions on his way to 2018 Most Outstanding Canadian Player Award.
Prior to the CFL, October spent four seasons coaching in the Colonial Athletic Association at William & Mary from 2014-17. He helped the Tribe win the 2015 CAA Championship and advance to the FCS Playoffs that year. His receivers caught 160 passes for 2,173 yards, highlighted by DeVonte Dedmon's All-Conference performance in 2015. October coached Dedmon the Touchdown Club of Richmond's Special Teams Player of the Year honor. Additionally, he coached All-CAA selection Tre McBride, who was a Tennessee Titans draft pick 2014. McBride was named the Touchdown Club of Richmond's Receiver of the Year in 2014.
October got his collegiate coaching experience started at VMI, coaching seven seasons with the Keydets (2007-13), spending five seasons as a wide receivers coach and two seasons as a cornerbacks coach in Lexington.
October was a defensive back for the Spiders program from 1994-98, earning All-Conference honors all four years. He was a First Team All-Atlantic 10 selection in 1998, Second Team All-A-10 in 1997 while earning Third Team All-Yankee Conference in both 1995 and 1996. He ranks fourth all-time in program history with 12 career interceptions and holds the program record with 112 punt returns in his career.
October played six years in the CFL, spending 1999-2000 with the Montreal Alouettes while being a member of the Edmonton Elks from 2001-04. He spent the 2001 season as part of the Washington in the National Football League. With Montreal, he returned two punts for touchdowns and a missed field goal 111 yards for a score in the 2000 season.
During his career with Edmonton, he returned four punts for touchdowns and had two seasons (2003, 2004) with over 1,000 kickoff return yards. Additionally, he saw time as a wide receiver with the Elks, posting 19 receptions for 196 yards in 2003. He was part of the 2003 Edmonton Grey Cup Championship team. When he finished his career, he was second all-time in Edmonton history in total punt return yardage, punt return touchdowns and kickoff return yardage in a season.
--UR—
Russ Huesman Spring Football Update
Wednesday, April 01
Football Weekly Press Conference November 19
Wednesday, November 19
Football Postgame - Lafayette
Saturday, November 15
Football Weekly Press Conference - November 12th
Wednesday, November 12