CFL.ca
REGINA — The Saskatchewan Roughriders have their man, as they have reached an agreement with former Edmonton Eskimos sideline boss Chris Jones to become the new head coach and general manager. The four-time Grey Cup champion will also act as the club’s defensive coordinator.
Jones was linked to the Riders almost immediately after winning the 103rd Grey Cup presented by Shaw a week ago as the head coach of the Edmonton Eskimos, and after his visit to Regina on Friday things moved quickly. The Riders were initially granted permission to speak to Jones, who will now take on the added responsibility of being a general manager.
“Today is an exciting day for the Saskatchewan Roughriders football club,” said Riders president and CEO Craig Reynolds. “Chris comes with an outstanding track record of success as a defensive coordinator, a head coach and in player personnel.”
Jones has been a CFL coach for 14 seasons and has never missed the playoffs, reaching the division finals 12 times, making seven Grey Cup appearances and winning a Grey Cup in each of his four stops.
“Quite simply, Chris Jones is a winner,” said Reynolds.
“This franchise has every opportunity to be successful and we’re committed to working hard to deliver championships for our incredible fans and building towards sustained success for this football club.
“We’ve taken an important step towards that goal.”
The Riders made shockwaves back at the end of August when they dismissed Head Coach Corey Chamblin and General Manager Brendan Taman after the team started the season 0-9. Bob Dyce took over as head coach after that and Jeremy O’Day as GM, both on an interim basis, while President and CEO Craig Reynolds took the time to search for a long-term solution.
While Reynolds explored many avenues, including the possibility of having O’Day and Dyce back in the fold, he couldn’t pass on the opportunity to bring in a proven winner in Jones.
Last week Jones led the Eskimos to a 26-20 win over the REDBLACKS on Sunday in Winnipeg. The Eskimos went 26-10 in two years under Jones, who joined the Esks in 2014 after spending two years as the Argos’ defensive coordinator.
A disciple of coaching great Don Matthews, Jones was hired by the Eskimos after being a catalyst in the Argos’ historic 100th Grey Cup win on home turf in 2012. Taking his aggressive coaching style and focus on young international talent to Edmonton, he led the Eskimos from a 4-14 season in 2013 to a 12-6 record a year later and a second-place finish in the West. 
The native of a small football-crazed town of about 3,000 in Tennessee called South Pittsburg, Jones said at his introductory press conference that he’ll feel at home in Regina.
“Football matters a whole lot down south and it matters a whole lot here,” said Jones, “and that hinged on my decision. Not many people get this opportunity and I’m certainly grateful.
“I woke up this morning with a smile in my face,” he added. “I look forward to being able to put together a really good football team and put together a coaching staff and an organization that I know the fans will be proud of.”
Jones built on that with a 14-4 season this year, finally dethroning the Stampeders to win the West Division. The Eskimos battled through a knee injury to Mike Reilly for the first half of the year, then upon his return won 10 straight games — including the Grey Cup.
For a Riders team coming off a three-win season, one of its worst seasons in franchise history, hiring Jones to fulfill both roles was a no-brainer. The veteran coach has proven he can turn a team around quick, and he’ll be busy out of the gate on a team currently with 32 players due to hit free agency.
While some difficult decisions await with the likes of Anthony Allen, Rob Bagg, Tyron Brackenridge, Chris Getzlaf, Alex Hall and Ryan Smith among others all hitting free agency, Jones has a chance to make Saskatchewan competitive right away and build the Riders in his preferred mold.
As for who will support the new Riders GM and coach, TSN’s Ryan Rishaug reported Sunday night that Jones is likely to bring most of his staff from Edmonton to Regina.
Jones also has a good starting point with veteran pivot Darian Durant poised to return under centre for the start of the year, a vaulable asset for any coach taking over a team for the first time.
