Argos’ Trestman saw coaching promise in Stampeders’ Dickenson even when he was still a quarterback

OTTAWA Marc Trestman knows quarterbacks, but he’s also got a keen eye for coaching talent.

Shortly after becoming the Montreal Alouettes’ head coach in December 2007, Trestman approached Dave Dickenson about joining his staff. Dickenson had just been released by the B.C. Lions, but the veteran quarterback declined because he wasn’t done playing.

Dickenson played one more season, earning a Grey Cup ring with Calgary following its 22-14 win over Montreal at Olympic Stadium. He retired in the off-season and began his coaching career as the Stampeders’ running backs coach. On Sunday, Trestman and Dickenson will be on opposite sidelines as head coaches when the Toronto Argonauts meet Calgary in the Grey Cup at TD Place. They’re also finalists for the CFL’s coach of the year honour. “My recollection is we did have a discussion and it worked out the way it did,” Trestman said Wednesday at the Grey Cup coaches news conference. “Here he is. “It says a lot for who he is . . . every part of his game is something we all can be proud of.”

Dickenson, who replaced John Hufnagel as Calgary’s head coach after the ‘15 season, said he wasn’t ready to become a full-time coach when Trestman came calling.

“I knew I could learn a lot (from Trestman) but I just hadn’t at that point given up the dream of playing,” Dickenson said. “I told him, ‘Hey, I’m going to try to keep this going,’ and as it turned out the career was pretty much over as a player but then I stayed in Calgary with Huf.

“Football people like talking football and I think both of us would enjoy sitting down and comparing notes and seeing where we’re at. Not this week, though, we’ll keep it for another week.”