ABOUT GREG
Greg DeLaval has a history of bringing out the best in people. Well-known in the university football community, Greg played a pivotal role in turning around four university football programs in Canada. He's coordinated record-setting offenses, won numerous championships, and developed major award-winning athletes and professionals.
In 2008, when the University of Toronto hired him as Head Football Coach to revitalize its historic yet struggling Varsity Blues football program, Greg had an immediate impact on the student-athletes, coaches, and culture. At the time, the team held the longest losing streak in Canadian university football history—49 consecutive losses spanning six and a half years. This was not only a monumental challenge but also Greg’s first head coaching role. In a deeply emotional day, the losing streak ended in his very first game as head coach, thrusting U of T football into the North American spotlight. The victory garnered extensive coverage from Canadian, U.S., and Toronto sports media for the next two weeks. Greg went on to finish second in voting for Coach of the Year, earning multiple first-place votes from his coaching peers. The season and its significance were captured in David Shibatani’s book Turning the Corner: The Story of the 2008 University of Toronto Varsity Blues Football Team.
Off the field, Greg has been a dedicated educator and mentor for students, athletes, teachers, coaches, staff members, alumni, and parents. He was a highly regarded university instructor and lecturer for 15 years at St. Francis Xavier University, University of Toronto, and the University of Calgary—each of which hired him twice. His classes were filled with aspiring teachers, coaches, doctors, nurses, athletic therapists, and strength and conditioning specialists. Known for his open-door policy, Greg supported a wide range of individuals with challenges and goals as diverse as the group themselves. Greg's research background on how to manage competing demands was invaluable as this was a common concern amongst his students, athletes and staff. Additionally, Greg supported individuals with performance anxiety, confidence issues, financial pressures, career uncertainty, health concerns, parenting, and divorce. In more severe cases, he worked as a member of a team of professionals providing guidance and support to individuals working through mental health crises, gang involvement, addiction, self-harm, suicide, loss, and legal issues. Always open to sharing his own personal and professional challenges, Greg brings a deep level of understanding, compassion, and insight into overcoming adversity, achieving a high level of success, organizing one’s life, and implementing strategies that secure an individuals well-being.
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To learn more about Greg’s background, education, qualifications and experience, please click the image below.
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Greg is a huge supporter of strategic mentoring. "Many of us hire lawyers, accountants, realtors, and tutors for their expertise and strategic advice. Athletes have coaches. Businesses contract consultants. We hire mechanics, contractors, engineers and chefs. Well-being is a much more complex and elusive endeavor. If we expect to experience what Aristotle called "Eudaimonia" or "human flourishing," we need somone in our corner to support us and redirect our thinking so we maximize our abilities, successfully navigate adversity and develop the principles needed for well-being. For the past 40 years, I have relied on my former Quarterback Coach and teacher, Dr. Shawn Northfield. Shawn has supported and challenged me through the best and worst times of my life. My resilience, achievements and well-being are directly related to his support. Domains: A Strategic Life exists as a result of the impact mentoring has had on my life. I continue to benefit greatly from Shawn's support and strategic advice, and it has been deeply meaningful for me to offer the same support to others."
Dr. Northfield is an independent, award-winning scholar who earned his PhD in Educational Leadership from the University of Nottingham, United Kingdom. He was recognized as a top emerging scholar in Canada and has produced over 50 peer-reviewed publications and presentations worldwide. Of note is his research on multidimensional trust and new leadership.
Dr. Northfield taught at St. Francis Xavier University, Nova Scotia, in the Faculty of Education. He taught in both the Bachelor of Education and Master of Education programs, developing teachers and school leaders, and was ranked among the highest-rated professors/instructors. He also worked as an invited guest professor for the Royal University of Bhutan at the graduate level, where he taught school leaders and helped develop an educational leadership program. Prior to this, he was an award-winning teacher and educational leader for 15 years at the secondary level in Calgary, Alberta, where he created metacognitive reading and writing strategies for publication.
Now retired, Dr. Northfield is the principal researcher and consultant for Domains - A Strategic Life and will audit the course sessions at the request of any of our clients.
