Johany Jutras/CFL.ca
MONTREAL — The Montreal Alouettes unveiled their coaching staff for the 2017 season on Tuesday. Along with General Manager Kavis Reed, Head Coach Jacques Chapdelaine finalized the group of coaches who will lead the team in 2017:
Assistant Head Coach and Defensive Coordinator Noel Thorpe will return with the team for a fourth season as the coordinator of a ferocious defensive squad, which allowed a league-low 32 touchdowns in 2016. It also dominated all other teams in the CFL, allowing opposing offences to score only 24 touchdowns in 54 red zone opportunities (44.4 per cent).
Once more, Thorpe will be able to count on Greg Quick, who will be the Senior Defensive Assistant in 2017. Jason Hogan will also work under Noel Thorpe as a Defensive Assistant, following a year as the team’s Offensive Quality Control Coach. Billy Parker completes the defensive staff, following a brillant eight-year career in the Alouettes secondary. He will also be a Defensive Assistant.
Noel Thorpe (left) chats with Als safety Marc Olivier Brouillette (right) during a 2016 game (Johany Jutras/CFL.ca)
On the offensive side of the ball, Jacques Chapdelaine will continue to be the team’s play caller. He will be assisted by Anthony Calvillo (quarterbacks), André Bolduc (running backs), Paul Charbonneau (offensive line) and Justin Chapdelaine (receivers). Calvillo, pro football’s all-time leading passer, will continue to coach the team’s quarterbacks, while André Bolduc will now in be charge of the running backs after completing the 2016 season as the team’s receivers coach.
Following a year as the running backs coach, Charbonneau will now be in charge of the offensive linemen. Justin Chapdelaine joins the offensive staff and will coach the receivers, following a season where he held the same position with the University of Calgary Dinos, helping the team reach the Vanier Cup. He was also a guest coach at the Alouettes training camp last season. The 25-year-old coach was previously an assistant coach with the Saskatchewan Roughriders in 2015.
The team is currently conducting interviews for the special teams coordinator position and hopes to make an announcement in the upcoming weeks.
