Two Grey Cup Coordinators Potential Candidates for Roughriders Coaching Opening
While the coaching staffs for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and Montreal Alouettes are focused on winning the Grey Cup, coordinators from both sides are rumored to be leading candidates for the only current head-coaching opening in the CFL.
Winnipeg offensive coordinator Buck Pierce and Montreal defensive coordinator Noel Thorpe are at the center of that conversation. The current opening is with the Saskatchewan Roughriders, who decided to not renew the contract of Craig Dickenson after a 6-12 season.
Pierce has been coaching in the CFL since 2014, all with the Blue Bombers. The former Winnipeg quarterback started coaching running backs and quarterbacks before jumping to offensive coordinator in 2020. His offense has been the catalyst behind Winnipeg making the last three Grey Cups, winning two.
Despite the rumor mill of being one of the top candidates, Pierce is keeping his focus on the Grey Cup game.
“I’m all about focusing on the now and where I am,” Pierce said this week. “I’ve always lived my life that way. Wherever I am, I am going to put everything I have into it and continue to learn and grow.”
Thorpe has been a long-time assistant coach since 1996 and joined the CFL in 2002. He’s been with Montreal on three different occasions, holding the defensive coordinator role since 2022.
Similar to Pierce, Thorpe is only focused on winning the Grey Cup for Montreal.
“There is 100 percent focus on this football game and this day. We talk about WIN: What’s Important Now,” Thorpe said. “If you can take care of the WINs and stack the days, the rest will take care of itself.”
It’s truly going to be a chess match between the two coordinators as Winnipeg’s offense is ranked first in the CFL in total offense (431.4). Montreal’s defense is second in points allowed (21.8) and third in takeaways (36), including nine in their 38-17 upset win over the Toronto Argonauts in the East Final.
Conversations for the Roughriders coaching job can’t be had with the two coordinators until after the Grey Cup. Saskatchewan will need permission to talk to coaches under contract. There is a two-week window after the Grey Cup for negotiations.
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Anthony Miller has been covering professional spring football since 2019 including XFL, USFL, and CFL. He was a local news reporter in Texas before transitioning to sports. Other sites he writes for includes College Football Network and NTZ Network.