Steinauer making the most of his ‘unique situation’
Hamilton’s new head coach in rare position of being the boss of his former boss Jones
When Orlondo Steinauer steps on the football field for the first time this spring, he’ll be doing so as the boss of his old boss.
It’s a unique situation for the 45-year-old Hamilton Tiger-Cats head coach, as his offensive coordinator will be June Jones, the man who stepped down to allow Steinauer to take over.
“I don’t know how many times that has really happened,” Steinauer said this week at the CFL winter meetings. “I think it’s a unique situation and it speaks volumes to June himself for being willing to do that. The fact he’s staying on as the OC is huge.”
Steinauer, a former all-star defensive back and two-time Grey Cup champion, was the Tiger-Cats defensive co-ordinator from 2013-16 and spent 2017 in the same position at California State University, Fresno.
He returned to the Ticats last season as assistant head coach to Jones and was elevated when the team feared losing him to openings in B.C. or Toronto this season. “Sometimes it just happens for you in life,” Steinauer said. “The opportunity was now and this one of those chances to seize.”
Having the 65-year-old Jones, an offensive guru who has been a head coach in the NFL and NCAA, on board is nothing but a bonus for Steinauer in his first year on the job.
“He already has the respect of the men in the room,” Steinauer said.
“The fact that he sees enough value in me after a year — of course he’s heard about me ... he does his homework and he knows my history — but I think for him seeing value in me staying in the organization, not pursuing the B.C. or the Toronto opportunity, it really solidified for me that this is where I was supposed to be. “I’m grateful for that.” Steinauer is still filling out the rest of his coaching staff, but has hired Jeff Reinebold, a longtime CFL assistant and former head coach, to be his special teams coordinator, adding more experience to an already learned staff.
While there’s some ambiguity with regard to what his roster will look like next season — as with every team due to uncertainty surrounding labour negotiations — Steinauer likes the core the Tiger-Cats have coming back.
It starts with most outstanding player finalist Jeremiah Masoli at the quarterback position.
“We have a great quarterback and he’s a great person and a great leader,” Steinauer said. “People follow him.
“From there, every team is faced with the same thing. It’s unknown. This will be the first time that we’re all trying to get all these players (in free agency) and some people you’re not going to be able to re-sign and some people you are. I’m looking forward to the challenge, but I do think there’s a core group of players you want and everything should fall into place as to what you can really offer.”
Masoli had a fantastic season in 2018, throwing for 5,209 yards and leading the Tiger-Cats to an 8-10 record and a home playoff win over the B.C. Lions.