Johany Jutras/CFL.ca
VANCOUVER — Nearly two weeks after restructuring their football operations, the BC Lions have parted ways with a number of assistant coaches.
Offensive coordinator Khari Jones, special teams coordinator Marcello Simmons and defensive line coach Robin Ross will not return to the Lions coaching staff in 2018.
“We are grateful for the contributions these gentlemen have made to our organization and we wish them the best in the future,” said Head Coach Wally Buono in a press release Saturday.
The moves would signify more change for a team that fell short of high expectations in 2017, finishing 7-11 (last in the West) and missing the playoffs for the first time since 1996.
Jones just completed his fourth season as a member of the club’s offensive coaching staff and his third as the Lions’ offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach.
After guiding one of the league’s top offences, including two 1,000-yard receivers and the emergence of a young star in Jonathon Jennings in 2016, the Lions’ offence struggled last season, finishing last in sacks and turnovers and third from the bottom in points despite finishing second in the league in passing.
The moves come after the Leos appointed Ed Hervey as the club’s general manager and Wally Buono announced he would be coaching his final season in 2018.
Simmons finished the second year as the club’s special teams coordinator after spending time in a similar role in Hamilton and Toronto over his 10-year coaching career.
The changes, if confirmed, mark the beginning of what could be a busy off-season in BC. While Jennings is under contract and remains the team’s likely starting quarterback in 2018, there’s plenty up in the air for Hervey’s club, including the status of six offensive linemen pending free agency along with receivers Emmanuel Arceneaux and Shaq Johnson.
Free agency starts on Feb. 13, but there could be plenty more news before then.
