Stampeders.com
CALGARY — The Calgary Stampeders have filled their void at defensive coordinator, announcing on Thursday the promotion of Defensive Line Coach DeVone Claybrooks.
Claybrooks is among eight returning members of Head Coach Dave Dickenson’s staff, as Dickenson takes over the Calgary sideline for the first time following the exit of John Hufnagel.
Added to the staff are newcomers Corey Mace, a former Stamps player who will coach the defensive line, and former CFL quarterback Dyan Dinwiddie, who arrives from Montreal and will serve as the quarterbacks coach.
“I’m excited about my first staff,” Dickenson said Thursday in a release. “I wanted to keep as much continuity as I could as I feel our staff has done an excellent job under Huff.
“We have some young coaches who will be given more responsibility and I am confident that our coaches are ready and prepared.”
The other holdovers are Mark Kilam (special teams), Pete Costanza (receivers), Marc Mueller (running backs), Pat DelMonaco (offensive line), Brent Monson (linebackers) and Kahlil Carter (defensive backs).
The Stampeders had a void to fill at the defensive coordinator spot after the recent departure of Rich Stubler, who joined Scott Milanovich and the Toronto Argonauts after his contract ended. Stubler helped coach the Stampeders to a Grey Cup Championship in 2014 and a 14-4 record in 2015 thanks in part to one of the CFL’s elite defences.
Claybrooks played a key role as a coach of Calgary’s Grey Cup-winning defence in 2014.
The work of Claybrooks and the defensive line also played a huge role though, as the Stamps’ defence was among the league leaders in a number of categories in 2015 including first in points allowed (16.1 per game), rushing touchdowns allowed (four), total touchdowns yielded (22) and average yards allowed per carry (4.6).
Calgary was also in the top three in sacks, first downs allowed and net yards allowed while defensive linemen Freddie Bishop III (11) and Charleston Hughes (10) both reached double digits in sacks. Calgary has finished in the top three in scoring defence in each of the past four seasons.
Dinwiddie joins the Stampeders after three years in Montreal. He served as the Alouettes’ co-offensive coordinator and running backs coach in 2015. Under Dinwiddie’s tutelage, Montreal led the CFL with 129 rushing first downs and was first in the East Division with 2,076 rushing yards, including 1,059 by league rushing champion Tyrell Sutton.
The Elk Grove, Calif., native joined the Alouettes’ staff in 2013 as offensive quality control coach and was named quarterbacks coach prior to the 2014 season. He was promoted to offensive co-ordinator during training camp.
A quarterback, Dinwiddie played five seasons in the CFL including three with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers (2006-08) and two with the Saskatchewan Roughriders (201
0-11). Now he’ll be a key influence on 25-year-old Bo Levi Mitchell, whose 28-6 start to his career is the best start for any QB in CFL history.
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Mace enters his seventh season in the Stampeders organization and his first as a member of the coaching staff.
The Vancouver native joined the Stampeders as a player in 2010 and appeared in 40 regular-season games for the Red and White. The defensive tackle recorded 44 tackles and four sacks during his Calgary career and scored two touchdowns – one on a reception as part of the short-yardage unit and one on a fumble recovery. Mace also played six post-season contests for the Stamps including the 2014 Grey Cup, where he recorded a sack to help Calgary defeat Hamilton for the title.
