The Chilliwack Huskers' new head coach wasn't scared off with the prospect of leading a team that hadn't won in two years. In fact, it was part of the appeal.

The Huskers, who haven't won a regular season game since 2009, named former CFLer Tyson St. James as their new head coach this week.

St. James has a distinguished football resume, having played junior ball with the Abbotsford Air Force, won a national championship as a player with the UBC Thunderbirds, been drafted first overall by the Saskatchewan Roughriders, and spent the last year as Simon Fraser University's defensive line coach.

It will be up to him to build a culture of winning for a program desperate for victory.

And St. James doesn't wilt at the task before him.

"I know they've struggled," he told the Times. "It's quite a challenge . . . but that's interesting to me.

Asked to elaborate, he said: "It brings out a lot in people having challenges like that. It forces you to get better at what you do and I think it will be a growth for myself and for the team."

But with his background, St. James comes at the job with a clear vision of what a junior football team should do for its players.

"Junior football provides a place for players to play who either aren't going to go to school, or they're developing to get into university," he told the Times. "I used it as a stepping stone to use it to get a university scholarship and I see a lot of guys doing the same thing and I want to help them on that road. That's kind of where I think I can lend some expertise."

Chilliwack Huskers president Geoff Sache said he was impressed with St. James's vision for the program and its players.

"He wants to win but he wants players with character and integrity as well," said Sache. "We really think the players are going to be happy at having the chance to play for somebody like him."

In the coming season, Sache is hoping for "a competitive product on the field, a group of quality players both on the field and off."

And St. James is on the same page.

"My goal is to build the organization based on coaches and players of integrity and character and I believe that that itself will create a winning atmosphere."

While outgoing head coach Luke Acheson wasn't able to win a regular season game during his stint with the team, he did make real strides off the field, emphasizing personal responsibility for players and improving the club's relationship with the Chilliwack Giants minor football program.

"My goal is just to build on what they've accomplished there," said St. James.

While St. James says that recruiting has become a more important part of running a club since his junior football days, he notes that programs must still mold themselves around a core of local players.

To that end St. James has already spoken to Giants midget head coach Suresh Parray, and told the Times that he hopes to continue to build the relationship between the two organizations.

"The nucleus of your team is built off your local community. These aren't professional or semi-professional teams so you're really going off charitable donations to work. My goal is to work from Chilliwack out to build the nucleus of the team."

The Huskers will host their annual general meeting Feb. 2 at 7 p.m. at Evergreen Hall. Anyone wanting to be part of the organization is urged to attend.

tolsen@chilliwacktimes.com