Winston October – Wide Receivers Coach – Staff Directory
University of Richmond alum Winston October is in his first season as wide receivers coach on Russ Huesman staff in 2022. 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.
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.
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.
October and his wife Andrea, a fellow Spider alum, have two daughters, Avery and Ava.
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