Ivan Gutfriend
Athletic Therapist

Gutfriend is entering his 30th season with the Roughriders. He has been with the Green and White since 1978. He was named head athletic therapist in 1981. Gutfriend is responsible for the day-to-day treatment and rehabilitation needs of all Roughrider players and coaches. He also oversees programs designed to maintain the team’s health and welfare.

Gutfriend received undergraduate degrees from the University of Saskatchewan and completed a Masters degree in Athletic Training from Indiana University. He is a certified athletic therapist through the Canadian Athletic Therapist Association.

Ivan and his wife Marie Anne live in Regina year round and have two daughters, Dori and Brandi.

Norm Fong
Equipment Manager

Fong has been a member of the Saskatchewan Roughrider Football Club for three decades. This season marks his 33rd year with the team and he is the longest-serving head equipment manager in the CFL. He served as an assistant at four training camps beginning in 1975 before accepting his current position in 1979. Born and raised in Regina, he graduated from Balfour Tech high school where he began learning the secrets of being a good equipment man as he was in charge of Balfour’s equipment for two seasons.

After high school, Fong stepped into the equipment room of the Regina Rams for a number of years and then in 1972, he joined the Los Angeles Sharks of the World Hockey Association. The following year Fong became equipment manager and trainer of the Regina Pats where he remained for five seasons and was part of their last Memorial Cup win in 1974. He has traveled throughout the province promoting the importance of proper, quality equipment at the amateur ranks which included producing video through Football Saskatchewan highlighting the proper use and fitting of football equipment.

Norm, wife Kathy and daughter Sara make Regina their year-round home.

Joe Womack
Director of Player Personnel

Womack begins his first season as Director of Player Personnel for the Saskatchewan Roughriders. As the Riders’ U.S. based scout, he will work out of Baton Rouge most of the year which has a great proximity to the SEC, the SWAC, the BIG 12, Conference USA, and the Sun Belt. He will also be close to New Orleans, Houston, and Dallas which offer significant advantages in terms of scouting NFL prospects.

Womack brings the Riders a wealth of football knowledge after spending the last 35 years in the business. Most recently, Womack has spent the past eight years scouting in the NFL with the Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Redskins, and the NFL Combine.

He first came to the CFL as a player in the 1970’s with Winnipeg and Calgary. He also spent time with Chicago in the World Football League and still holds the record for the longest interception return (96 yards) for a touchdown.

After his playing days, Womack joined the Saskatchewan Roughriders as a scout in 1982. He moved on to work at the CFL office as the Director of Scouting in the mid-1980’s. Womack also served as the Director of College Scouting for the B.C. Lions in the 1990’s under G.M. Eric Tillman.

In terms of experience, Womack’s combination of background in the CFL and in the NFL speaks for itself. He is a true pro and a tireless worker who will give the Riders another very valuable set of eyes.

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