Stamps name Monson defensive co-ordinator
From video assistant to linebacker coach, Ontario native now defensive co-ordinator
Rewind to 2009.
That’s when a 23-year-old Brent Monson joined the Calgary Stampeders as a video guy, trying to tune into what it takes to be a CFL coach.
A decade later, here he is as the newly anointed defensive co-ordinator for the Grey Cup champions, a role he can cue up thanks to one year as a video assistant under then-head coach John Hufnagel.
Roll the tape, if you will ... “Oh, I’m all about that,” Monson said with a laugh about video review. “That year of video was so valuable to me. It helped me learn the ins and outs of a video system so I could do a lot of stuff on my own efficiently. I would never take that year back. It’s something I learned so much and was able to carry forward.
“I knew pretty young I wanted to be a coach,” Monson said. “The video assistant opportunity with the Stampeders was just something I felt gave me the ability to learn and get my foot in the door. That was just kind of my thought process. And it was an opportunity to work with some great people, like Huff and Dave (Dickenson) and all the guys that have been through this organization over the years.”
The Hamilton native went on to take over the linebackers/strength and conditioning dual role after Mark Kilam was elevated from it to special-teams co-ordinator.
Monson then continued in various dual roles with the Stampeders for four more seasons until becoming the linebackers coach in 2015, a gig he proved successful until being promoted Thursday to the post of defensive co-ordinator, taking over for the man he first coached and then worked under as a position coach in DeVone Claybrooks.
“I’ve always worked closely with DeVone,” Monson said. “Me and DeVone have been together for awhile. I even coached him in 2011 when I was a d-line coach, so we have a good relationship. The last couple of years, I’ve tried to do as much as I can for DeVone. I’ve always been right there helping him with whatever he needs.”
It’s amounted to one heck of a defence, as the Stamps — among other highlights — have allowed the fewest amount of points of any team in the CFL in each of the last two seasons.
That success is a big reason why Claybrooks accepted a new challenge earlier this week as head coach of the B.C. Lions, while Monson — similar to Claybrooks before him — jumps up into the co-ordinator’s gig after being the linebackers coach with the Stampeders.
“I’m just excited for the opportunity,” Monson said. “I appreciated Huff and Dickie having the confidence in me to move forward with me. We’re coming off a pretty good season, so gotta make it just as good if not better next year.”
He knows that’ll come by continuing not only to preach the Stampeders tradition of family but by being a nose-to-the-grindstone type guy that he’s always prided himself on being on and off the football field.
“Brent’s a hard worker who knows our personnel very well,” said Dickenson. “Just as importantly, the players know him and will play hard for him. He’s been a valuable member of our coaching staff for a long time, and I’m very confident that he’ll do an excellent job in the defensive coordinator’s role.”
“Yeah, just put my head down and grind,” Monson agreed. “And that was kind of my mindset going in — to learn as much as I can and see where it could take me. I feel the best coach is the one who gives the players the most information to succeed on the field. Anything you give them to help them succeed, they respect.”
Even with a new voice running the defence after Claybrooks departure, the Stamps should continue to get the respect of CFL offences.
After all, they are the reigning Grey Cup champs, and Monson’s defence won’t be much different from what Claybrooks’ crew looked like in dominating the league.
“I like a lot of stuff we did,” Monson said. “Our whole staff brings stuff to the table. We’re all excited about things and we work hard, so it’s been good.
“But to me no defence or no offence is going to be the same from year-to-year, whether it’s a new co-ordinator or not,” Monson continued. “In the offseason, that’s your time to go back and look at all the stuff that you did well and all the stuff you want to improve on and check out other team’s defences that did well and what were they doing and check out other teams’ offences and how they beat us. My whole thing is the more studying and more work you put in the off-season, it’ll help us be successful next season.”
For Monson, that’s forever been his calling card, whether it was as a player for the mighty St. Thomas More Knights in Hamilton or with the CJFL’s Burlington Braves (alongside future Stamps all-star punter Rob Maver), as a high-school coach for both Hamilton’s Bishop Tonnos Titans and Team Ontario or as a man mostly behind the scenes with the Stampeders.
“I’ve just always been working toward winning football games really,” Monson said. “I hadn’t really been thinking too far ahead about where it would take me. After DeVone had that health scare this year, I had to fill in. So that was an opportunity for me to get my feet wet as a defensive co-ordinator. Against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and one of the best offences, that was a good test for me.
“I’m not looking to fill DeVone’s shoes. I’ve got my own shoes. I’m looking to work hard and improve on some stuff and bring whatever different twists I can to it.
“I’m just focused on winning. That’s my favourite thing to do.”