Time Running Out on Saskatchewan Roughriders Coaching Search?
The Saskatchewan Roughriders want to have a coach in place by the end of November, according to general manager and vice-president Jeremy O’Day, so time is running short.
The interview process is well underway, with various candidates being reviewed. A list of potential replacements for former coach Craig Dickenson include Calgary Stampeders defensive coordinator Brent Monson and special teams coordinator Mark Kilam, Hamilton Tiger-Cats senior assistant Scott Milanovich and defensive coordinator Mark Washington, BC Lions offensive coordinator Jordan Maksymic, Toronto Argonauts defensive coordinator Corey Mace and Winnipeg Blue Bombers offensive coordinator Buck Pierce.
The Riders went 6-12 this past season, missing the playoffs for the second consecutive year. Roughriders president and CEO Craig Reynolds, in an interview with team play-by-play voice and 620 CKRM host Michael Ball, said the coaching search is the team’s top priority.
“That’s what we’re working on every single day this offseason,” Reynolds said, according to 620 CKRM. “I’ll tell you we’re extremely driven, it’s frustrating for our fanbase and certainly frustrating for me in my chair.”
So had to be the watching the Grey Cup. The two starting quarterbacks – Cody Fajardo (Montreal Alouettes) and Zach Collaros (Blue Bombers) – formerly played for Saskatchewan. Als offensive coordinator Jason Maas was fired by the Riders last year.
The Riders and their rabid fanbase haven’t celebrated a Grey Cup title since 2013.
“It means so much more here, there’s a passion that’s unrivalled,” Reynolds said.
As far as what kind of coach the Riders want, quarterback Trevor Harris certainly has a preference.
“Really you just want to make sure that you’re getting a leader of men and an alpha male, one that is unaffected by outside noise,” Harris said on CTV Morning Live Saskatchewan.
The pressure of coaching in Saskatchewan are immense.
“The lights can get bright and you want to make sure that you’re hiring a coach that is seasoned and that is not going to be affected by that and understands this is a big job and the most important job in the CFL,” Harris added.
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Art Garcia is the Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of InsideTheRangers.com and CFL on FanNation. Award-winning stops at various media outlets dot his career.