Coach Winston October

October has 19 years of coaching experience and is currently the Offensive Coordinator at the College of William and Mary. Previously, the Offensive Coordinator at the University of Richmond. He has also coached at VMI and several Canadian Football League franchises. Over his career he has coached on offense, defense and special teams.

During his three seasons with the Spiders, he helped lead the program to three consecutive NCAA playoff appearances and back-to-back CAA titles. 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.

Under October’s leadership as offensive coordinator, 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).

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.

October's first season on his alma mater's staff saw the Richmond wide receiver room come alive with the trio of Jasiah Williams, Jakob Herres and Leroy Henley Jr. All three receivers were consistently at the top of the CAA rankings throughout the season as Richmond boasted as the only team in the country with three receivers with 73 or more receptions. Williams (82), Herres (77) and Henley (73) led the CAA, while Williams (6.8), Herres (5.9) and Henley (5.6) were first, third and fourth in the conference in receptions per game, respectively. October's 2022 receiving corps was responsible for catching of 26 of Richmond's 29 touchdown passes and accounted for 3,146 receiving yards as a group.

Herres led the league in receiving yards with 958 and Henley finished the season in a three-way tie for most touchdown receptions with 10. For their season under October's guidance, Herres was named First Team All-CAA, while Henley took Third Team honors. Herres was also named the best wide receiver in Virginia by the Touchdown Club of Richmond as he capped an impressive career.

Previously spent 2018-2019 with the Ottawa RedBlacks as the wide receiver coach and added play caller for part of the 2019 season. In the two years he developed a group which had four players eclipse 1,000+ yards and three All-CFL selections. One of those players Brad Sinopoli received the 2018 Most Outstanding Canadian Player award in CFL while breaking the Canadian Football League and RedBlacks regular season all time reception record with 116 receptions. He also led the league in yards after catch (486). In 2018 Ottawa were the Eastern Conference Champions and 106th Grey Cup participants.

Prior to Ottawa, October consistently developed one of the Colonial Athletic Association’s and nation’s most productive receiving corps and returners during his four campaigns with The College of William and Mary (2014-2017). Highlighted by Tre McBride, a 2015 NFL’s Tennessee Titans draft pick who was also selected as the 2014 Touchdown of Richmond Top FBS/FCS Wide Receiver of the Year in Virginia. Another player, DeVonte Dedmon, was selected as the 2015 Touchdown of Richmond Top FBS/FCS Special Teams of the Year in Virginia and 2015 CAA Special Teams Player of the Year. He signed with Ottawa in 2019. While two other players signed NFL contracts upon graduation. William and Mary were the 2015 CAA Champions.

October joined the Tribe staff after coaching wide receivers (5) and cornerbacks for (2) seasons at Virginia Military Institute. He also worked with the returners. During that time, he helped produce the No. 2 and No. 3 all-time single season kick return yardage leaders in the Big South Conference’s history. Along with the school’s top four of five all-time kick return record holders. One of those players signed with the Montreal Alouettes of the CFL.

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 school’s and conference’s all-time punt return yardage list. He also ranks fourth all-time in program history with 12 career interceptions.

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 Commanders of 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. He was part of the 2003 Edmonton Grey Cup Championship team. October was selected in 2024 to the Edmonton Elks All-Decade Team for the 2000 years. 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. Additionally, fifth in punt return yardage and eighth in total return yardage in Canadian Football League history.