Johany Jutras/CFL.ca
It’s not quite late December, but coaching staffs are taking the first steps of starting to shore up across the league.
That was helped significantly on Tuesday, when BC Lions head coach DeVone Claybrooks announced his staff. (Worth asking: Has anyone transitioned from football retirement to a coaching role smoother and faster than Drew Tate?)
Claybrooks was one of three new head coaches named this month. The other two — Corey Chamblin in Toronto and Orlondo Steinauer in Hamilton — are still working on their staffs. Edmonton is searching for a new offensive and defensive coordinator. Montreal needs a new DC, since Rich Stubler has joined the Lions staff for the fourth time in his career. Claybrooks’ departure in Calgary opened the door for longtime Stamps’ positional coach Brent Monson, who earned the promotion to DC there last week.
While the Lions announcement answers some questions, there are still a lot of spots to be filled.
Chamblin said in his introductory press conference last week that he’d take on defensive coordinator duties and that much of last year’s Argos defensive staff would stay the same. The offensive side, he said, was something of a clean slate. QBs coach Anthony Calvillo’s move to USPORTS with the Montreal Carabins is the latest loss on the offensive side of the ball. O-line coach Jonathan Himebauch has also left the club, posting on his Instagram account that he’d be joining the San Antonio Commanders with the Alliance of American Football.
With multiple teams in need of a defensive coordinator, there are a number of names out there that would fit the bill.
Mike Benevides and Mark Washington were in Edmonton and BC, respectively, this past season and should both be juggling calls from teams.
In Hamilton, Steinauer has plenty of DC experience but as a first-time head coach, could benefit from having an experienced coach in there to oversee the defence while he gets a feel for his new role. That probably factored into BC’s hiring of Stubler, where Claybrooks is also a first-time head coach. Either Benevides or Washington could work there, but they’ll also likely be pitched by the Alouettes.
Washington could be a fit in Edmonton. A player with the Lions from 2003 to 2007, then a coach with the team the last 11 years, Washington is only out of a job in BC because of a new regime. Another option for the Esks — and one that would be a cap-friendly move — would be internal promotion. Defensive backs coach Barron Miles and d-line coach Demetrious Maxie should both candidates for the Esks’ DC role.
Another name that has popped up in potential hiring conversations is Phillip Lolley. He came to the CFL in 2014 as Chris Jones’ linebackers coach in Edmonton. He moved with Jones’ staff to Saskatchewan for the 2016 season and spent 2017 in Hamilton, where he assumed DC duties for the Ticats after Jeff Reinebold was released midseason. Lolley was linked to discussions in Edmonton by Postmedia’s Gerry Moddejonge, but would be a candidate worth exploring in Hamilton and Montreal as well.
The Esks will be busy hiring on the offensive side of the ball as well. Jason Maas will relinquish his offensive coordinator role in 2019 and the team parted ways with much of its offensive staff after its disappointing non-playoff season. Maas has suggested he’d like to promote internally for the OC hire, with Jordan Maksymic, the team’s QBs coach and pass game coordinator this past year, a candidate for the role. Maksymic came into the CFL as a video coordinator with Edmonton in 2011 and 2012, before spending two years with the REDBLACKS as their running backs coach and offensive assistant. He’s been Edmonton’s QBs coach the last three years.
Stamps QB coach Ryan Dinwiddie interviewed for the Argos head coaching job, but turned the team down on its offer of being the OC, Justin Dunk reported. Tommy Condell worked as the Argos’ offensive coordinator in 2018 and would be seen as a valuable hire anywhere in the league.
Some other offensive minds in assistant roles that are under contract but worth speculating on include Bombers QB coach Buck Pierce and former Als receivers coach Jason Tucker. Riders special teams coordinator and CFL vet Craig Dickenson was a rumoured head coaching candidate. If the interest is there, an OC job could be seen as a move toward a future head coaching gig.
