A recently leaked memo from CFL Commissioner Jeffery Orridge to all nine teams laid out the new policy for movement on non-players – meaning CFL coaches and general managers. The former unwritten rule that allowed coaches to accept promotions with another team was out the window, replaced by a requirement for written consent by both teams and the commissioner.
The most important stipulation, though, is having the compensation worked out in writing before talks begin. Penalties for not following the new protocol include a $25,000 fine and loss of the first round draft pick; a second offence could lead to suspension, or even a lifetime ban, at the commissioner’s discretion. Another provision allows a team to maintain the coach’s “rights” if he retires or quits before his contract is up so that he cannot jump to a different team, as current Montreal Alouettes defensive coordinator Noel Thorpe tried to do.
New CFL Coach Movement Policy Stifles Growth
The talk of compensation for coordinators leaving for a promotion to head coach on another team began with the Ottawa Redblacks’ Jason Maas, who left for the vacant Edmonton Eskimos head coach job. The Eskimos’ position became open after general manager Ed Hervey allowed Chris Jones to leave for Saskatchewan to fill a multiple duty role as vice president of football ops, general manager, head coach, and defensive coordinator. The Eskimos asked for no compensation from the Riders, despite losing a key piece of their recent Grey Cup win.
Hervey then reached out to Ottawa for permission to talk to Maas, got it, and offered Maas the job. However, the Redblacks refused to accept Maas’ resignation unless they got compensation. Eventually, the league stepped in with an arbitrator, who allowed Maas to move to Edmonton and awarded the Redblacks no compensation. Of course, the Redblacks’ general manager Marcel Desjardins didn’t offer any compensation to the Calgary Stampeders when they hired Rick Campbell away, either.
The fact that all parties have to agree on compensation in advance is a huge problem: it stifles the growth of coaches in this league. The CFL only has nine head coaching positions, and currently four of those head coaches are also the general manager, limiting other coaches’ upward mobility.
Take the example of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats’ Orlondo Steinauer. When any coaching vacancy has appeared recently, his name has been listed as one of the early favourites. However, his contract with the Ticats has a no movement clause, which means head coach/general manager Kent Austin won’t even entertain the idea of Steinauer leaving until his contract either expires or is terminated. That’s ironic, considering Austin was allowed to sever his contract as head coach with the Saskatchewan Roughriders after just one season, mere weeks after winning the Grey Cup.
There used to be a “gentleman’s agreement” in the CFL: if a coach had an offer to advance and further his career with another team, his current team would shake his hand, thank him for his service, and start the process of finding a replacement.
However, now that there will have to be compensation involved, teams might be scared from talking to deserving candidates. A coach like Steinauer is probably going to have to roll the dice that there will be a head coaching vacancy open when his contract expires.
While most will call this policy the “Maas Rule” or the “Thorpe Rule”, it should probably be remembered as the “Orridge Rule”, because this will be the new commissioner’s lasting legacy.
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