WILLIAMSBURG — After tremendous success as an assistant coach and coordinator in the professional and collegiate ranks, Winston October was named William & Mary Football’s offensive coordinator by Tribe Head Coach Mike London on Wednesday.
An assistant on W&M’s staff from 2014-17, October returns to Williamsburg after building an impressive coaching resumé with multiple organizations in the Canadian Football League (CFL) and most recently as offensive coordinator at the University of Richmond. During his three seasons with the Spiders, he helped lead the program to three consecutive NCAA playoff appearances and back-to-back CAA titles.
“I am proud to officially announce Winston October as our new offensive coordinator,” London said. “Our team, staff, and I’m sure Tribe fans will welcome Winston back to William & Mary Football. He was an integral member of the coaching staff during the 2015 CAA Championship season and has an impressive resumé of performance at the professional and collegiate levels. He is a veteran coach who has experience as a successful playcaller with demonstrated performance in winning championships. I’ve known him as a player, coach and as a great person. I look forward to seeing an innovative offense that looks to highlight the skill sets of the talented group of players on this team.”
Under October’s leadership as offensive coordinator, which included one year as co-OC in 2023, the Spiders’ dynamic offensive attack averaged nearly 28 points per game during the past two seasons and produced numerous all-conference selections, highlighted by five All-CAA honorees in 2024. En route to helping UR total 10 wins and record a perfect 8-0 mark in CAA action last fall, October’s group ranked among the top 20 nationally in rushing offense (194.4) and third down conversion percentage (.462). Additionally, after taking over as OC in 2023 he helped the Spiders post a 14-1 mark in CAA play, highlighted by 14 consecutive league wins – the nation’s longest active conference winning streak in the FCS.
“I am excited to work with Coach London and the Tribe,” October said. “I look forward to collaborating with the staff and student-athletes as we strive for excellence on and off the football field.”
In addition to his role as offensive coordinator at UR, October also coached the Spiders’ wide receivers for three seasons (2022-24). During the 2023 campaign, UR ranked among the nation’s best in multiple statistical categories – completion percentage (ninth), passing efficiency (24th), passing touchdowns (11th), first downs (23rd) and fourth down conversions (ninth). October helped quarterback Kyle Wickersham lead the nation in completion percentage and was 23rd in the nation in pass efficiency. Additionally, October’s 2023 receiving room was responsible for 18 of the Spiders’ 26 receiving touchdowns, led by All-CAA standout Nick DeGennaro who finished the season ranked eighth nationally in receptions (71), 20th in receiving yards (904) and fourth in receiving touchdowns (11) – a mark that tied Richmond’s single-season record.
During his first season at UR, October’s unit was the only group in the country with at least three receivers with 73 or more receptions. Additionally, his receiving corps caught 26 of UR’s 29 touchdown passes and accounted for 3,146 receiving yards. Highlighting the group were All-CAA standouts Jakob Herres and Leroy Henley Jr., as Herres garnered first-team all-league distinction and was named the best wide receiver in Virginia by the Touchdown Club of Richmond.
October rejoined the collegiate ranks after four seasons in the CFL, coming with the Edmonton Elks (2020-21) as the pass game coordinator / wide receivers coach and the Ottawa Redblacks (2018-19) as the wide receivers coach. He also spend part of the 2019 season as the Redblacks’ play caller. In addition to coaching W&M all-time great DeVonte Dedmon, he helped Ottawa win the East Division Championship in 2018 and play in the 106th Grey Cup Championship.
Prior to coaching at the professional level, October led W&M’s wide receivers from 2014-17 and helped the Tribe win the 2015 CAA Championship and advance to the NCAA Playoffs. Highlighting those who benefited from October’s tutelage was All-American Tre McBride, who was selected by the Tennessee Titans in the seventh round of the 2015 NFL Draft. The three-time all-conference selection established himself as one of the nation’s elite wide receivers and earned an invitation to the East-West Shrine Game after totaling 64 catches for 809 yards with four touchdowns as a senior. Before pursuing a professional career in the CFL and a brief stint in the NFL with the Miami Dolphins, Dedmon also thrived under October’s direction and earned multiple all-conference honors and was chosen as the top special teams player in both the CAA and the state of Virginia in 2015. In addition to McBride and Dedmon, two other Tribe wideouts — Christian Reeves (Kansas City Chiefs) and Kevin Hart (Pittsburgh Steelers) — earned NFL rookie mini camp invitations.
October joined the Tribe staff after a seven-year stint at Virginia Military Institute where he coached wide receivers for five seasons and cornerbacks for two years. He also worked with the return specialists. During that time, he helped produce the No. 2 and No. 3 all-time kick return yardage leaders in the Big South Conference’s history. Under his tutelage, the Keydets receiving corps totaled 166 receptions, 2178 yards and 16 touchdowns in 2013.
A 1999 graduate of the University of Richmond, October was a four-time All-Atlantic 10 selection as a defensive back and earned All-America honors as a senior. Additionally, he served as a team captain during the Spiders’ A-10 championship season in 1998 and finished his career ranked No. 1 on the conference’s all-time punt return yardage list.
After graduating with a bachelor of arts degree in communications in 1999, October played professionally with the Montreal Alouettes in the Canadian Football League for two seasons where he led the league in punt returns (1999-2000). After a brief stint with the Washington Commanders in 2001, he returned to the CFL to play with the Edmonton Elks where he helped the organization win the 2003 Grey Cup. Additionally, he finished his career ranked fifth all-time in punt return yardage in CFL history.
October and his wife Andrea have two daughters, Avery and Ava.
