The CFL coaching carousel has started early with the new Saskatchewan Roughriders head coach and general manager Chris Jones putting pen to paper with CEO Craig Reynolds. The move has had an impact on the football-crazed province and on the league, already.
Other clubs waited patiently to make their moves until this highly speculated deal was confirmed but quickly acted upon the news afterwards. A flurry of action since Sunday is shaping the CFL coaching landscape of most teams around the league for 2016. Here is a quick look at who’s in and who’s out so far.
CFL Coaching Carousel
Saskatchewan Roughriders
IN
– Chris Jones (GM/HC/DC)
– John Murphy (Asst. GM & VP of football op’s)
– Jarius Jackson (QB’s and passing game coach)
– Craig Dickenson (STC)
Out
– Bob Dyce (Interim HC, STC)
– Craig Smith (Dir. of player personnel and Canadian scouting)
– Greg Quick (DC)
Edmonton Eskimos
Out
– Chris Jones (HC, DC)
– Jarius Jackson (QB’s & passing game coach, player development)
– Craig Dickenson (STC)
Calgary Stampeders
In
– Dave Dickenson (promoted to HC)
– DeVone Claybrooks (promoted to DC)
– Ryan Dinwiddie (QB’s)
Out
– John Murphy (Asst. GM & dir. of player personnel)
– Rich Stubler (DC)
B.C. Lions
In
– Wally Buono (GM, VP of football op’s, filled vacant HC)
Out
– Jeff Tedford (HC)
– Chuck McMann (STC & Running backs coach)
– George Cortez (OC & QB’s)
Winnipeg Blue Bombers
In
– Paul LaPolice (OC)
Toronto Argonauts
In
– Rich Stubler (DC)
Montréal Alouettes
In
– Greg Quick (LB’s coach)
– Kavis Reed (STC, promoted to asst. HC)
Out
– Ryan Dinwiddie (Co-OC, RB’s)
It has been just ten days since the 103rd Grey Cup was awarded to the Edmonton Eskimos and the CFL clubs have already played a rousing game of musical chairs.
Both the Hamilton Tiger Cats and the Ottawa Redblacks have been idle thus far but much speculation has been about Ottawa OC Jason Maas moving to Edmonton to fill the vacant HC position.
Should that happen I wonder if Ottawa would look at the Calgary Stampeders receivers coach, Pete Costanza. Heading into his ninth year in the CFL, he was previously a HC and OC in the premier indoor leagues down south before joining the Stamps. In the CFL, Costanza has done a wonderful job with that group of receivers which includes former Stampeder and current Redblack, Brad Sinopoli.
Another question mark is Quinn Tedford in B.C.. In 2015, the younger Tedford served as offensive quality control and assistant receivers coach. His status has not been questioned yet. With Jeff Tedford pursuing opportunities south of the border, I believe he is likely to resign from the Lions and re-unite with his father wherever he signs.
The Winnipeg questions are interesting. Will hometown boy, Bob Dyce, fill the role of special teams coordinator with the Bombers? Could it be Jim Daley? I doubt whether head coach Mike O’Shea would even want to give the reins to anyone after the improvements the Bombers made with him in the role.
I am certain we will know the answers to these questions sooner than later. What an exciting ride it’s been so far on the CFL Coaching Carousel!
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