Tiger-Cats name Steinauer head coach
HAMILTON — The Hamilton Tiger-Cats completed an unusual coaching shuffle Monday by promoting assistant Orlondo Steinauer to head coach and reassigning June Jones to associate coach and offensive co-ordinator.
“After working closely with Orlondo last season, it was obvious to me that he’s ready to take the next step in his career and become a head coach in the CFL,” Jones said. “He’s earned this opportunity and the time was now. I made a decision that in order to put our best foot forward and bring a Grey Cup championship back to Hamilton, we needed to keep him here and expand his role.”
Jones guided the team to an 8-10 record in the Canadian Football League’s regular season. The Tiger-Cats finished second in the East and reached the division final where it lost to Ottawa.
A source told The Canadian Press last week that the B.C. Lions and Toronto Argonauts asked the Ticats for permission to speak to Steinauer regarding their vacant head-coaching positions.
Jones said he recently approached CEO Scott Mitchell with a suggestion to make the changes, adding he also talked to Steinauer about his options.
Steinauer won two Grey Cups over 13 years as a player. He was named an all-star at three different positions (cornerback, halfback and safety) and his 1,178 interception return yards are the second-most in league history.