Murray McCormick
Regina Leader Post

REGINA -- There are two sides to the Saskatchewan Roughriders' search for a new head coach.

There is the media side, which involves a great deal of speculation on where the search stands and about the relative merits of the candidates for the CFL team's vacant head-coaching position. On the other side is Riders general manager Brendan Taman, who is conducting the interviews from his own list of head-coaching prospects.

The Riders are in the market for a head coach for the second time since the end of the 2010 season. Last year, Taman was involved in the process to determine the candidates to take over as head coach, but the final decision was made by Ken Miller, who was then the vice-president of football operations.

Miller selected Greg Marshall. Marshall, who along with offensive coordinator Doug Berry, was fired on Aug. 19 after the Roughriders opened the season at 1-7. Miller returned to the sidelines as head coach, but resigned from both of his positions at the conclusion of the 2011 season. The Roughriders went 5-13 and missed the playoffs for the first time since 2001.

Taman has been unavailable to the media for updates on the Riders' search for a head coach because he has been conducting interviews with some of the candidates. Taman is also reluctant to disclose the identities of the candidates he has interviewed because it doesn't help whoever doesn't get the job.

That hasn't stopped some of the speculation on who is on the Riders' list of headcoaching candidates and who has been interviewed. Internally, it's believed that Taman has conducted interviews with Riders defensive coordinator Richie Hall and special-teams coordinator Craig Dickenson.

Taman was granted permission to speak to Toronto Argonauts special-teams coordinator Mike O'Shea and that interview is believed to have already been conducted.

Corey Chamblin, the defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, was in Regina on Monday for an interview with Taman. Chamblin is considered to be the front-runner for the position based on what transpired during the search for Miller's replacement after the 2010 season.

Chamblin was Taman's choice as head coach, but Miller elected to go with Marshall. That decision was based on a management structure where Taman reported to Miller. Taman was handed complete control of the football operations on Nov. 9 and will have the final say on who is named head coach.

According to reports by Sportsnet's Arash Madani, Taman is to conduct interviews this week with B.C. Lions defensive coordinator Mike Benevides and Winnipeg Blue Bombers defensive coordinator Tim Burke. Dave Dickenson, Calgary's offensive coordinator, is also believed to be among the candidates for head coach. He is Craig Dickenson's brother.

Taman said recently he would contact former Riders head coach Kent Austin about a possible return. Austin guided the Riders to a 23-19 win over the Blue Bombers in the 2007 Grey Cup game. He left in 2008 to become the offensive coordinator at his alma mater, the University of Mississippi. Austin recently wrapped up his second season as head football coach at Cornell University. Austin has been unavailable for comment.

Another longshot could be George Cortez, who is in his second season as the quarterbacks coach with the NFL's Buffalo Bills. Cortez spent 19 years coaching in the CFL, including three stints with the Stampeders. Cortez was the Riders offensive line coach in 2006. Taman would have to wait to until after the NFL season before being able to officially meet with Cortez.

Taman said in a recent interview that he was keeping an open mind in regards to all candidates and he wasn't leaning towards an offensive-or defensive-minded head coach. Taman emphasized that the staff the head coach would assemble would be a key. Taman hopes to have a head coach in place by the end of December, if not sooner.