Search for Als coach not so simple
Begin to find replacement
The Alouettes’ search for a new head coach will go one of two ways: Either general manager Jim Popp will travel the safe route, recommending a candidate who has Canadian Football League experience, or the general manager will think outside the box, pulling someone out of left field — as he did five years ago, with Marc Trestman.
We know this much, the process has begun.
On Friday, montrealgazette.com reported via Twitter that Popp has received permission to interview Toronto defensive coordinator Chris Jones. That interview is expected to take place in Mobile, Ala., the site of the Senior Bowl.
Meanwhile, a Vancouver radio station reported Popp has received permission to interview Jacques Chapdelaine, British Columbia’s offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. And, should the Als be seeking a bilingual coach, Danny Maciocia almost certainly will be on the team’s radar. Maciocia told The Gazette Friday night he has been contacted by Popp.
But it’s not that simple or clearcut.
Trestman, named head coach of the Chicago Bears this week, had never been a head coach before arriving in Montreal in 2008. And he had little knowledge of the CFL, other than serving as a guest coach at Als training camp in 2007.
If Popp and owner Robert Wetenhall are convinced they want to venture down that road again, two sources told The Gazette Dan Hawkins could be a candidate.
Hawkins, 52, is a studio analyst on ESPN’s coverage of college football. He’s a former head coach at Willamette, a Division II college, and also coached at Boise State and the University of Colorado. And, like Trestman, it’s believed he once was a guest coach at Als camp. Hawkins has a career coaching record of 112-61-1, including 5311 at Boise State. But he was only 19-39 at Colorado.
While Jones would bring a defensive presence to Montreal, his name and face would be familiar to the organization. He was an Als assistant from 2002-07, the last five as defensive coordinator.
Jones interviewed for the position that went to Trestman. That led to Jones’s departure to Calgary, where he spent four seasons, eventually adding the titles of assistant head coach and assistant player personnel director. When Scott Milanovich, another former Als assistant, was named Toronto’s head coach last season, Jones joined him. Jones was the Argonauts’ assistant head coach and assistant GM.
“I’ll see what they have to say,” Jones said. “It’s an honour to be considered. We’ll go through the natural process and see if it’s the right fit. (Five) years ago I was just ready to be a head coach. Now, I’ve been in it long enough, it has to be the right fit for both parties.
“This is a natural progression,” he added. “You have success in other places and people consider you a candidate.”
Maciocia, too, would make sense for many reasons. Not only is he a former GM and head coach of the Edmonton Eskimos, he was an Als assistant for five seasons, completing his tenure in 2001 as Montreal’s offensive coordinator. Maciocia is familiar with Popp and, more importantly, quarterback Anthony Calvillo.
Calvillo turns 41 in August. Presumably, at this stage of his career, he doesn’t want a new offensive system or coaches sprung upon him. Also, Noel Thorpe, Montreal’s new defensive coordinator, worked under Maciocia at Edmonton.
“I’m very happy where I’m at,” said Maciocia, the head coach at Université de Montréal since 2011. “But I’ll clearly listen because of the relationships that have been in place with some members over a period of time.”
Only three Eskimos quarterbacks have passed for over 5,000 yards and Maciocia has coached two of them — Jason Maas (2004) and Ricky Ray (’05 and ’08).
Similarly, Doug Berry also is familiar with Calvillo, serving as an Als’ offensive assistant between 1999 and 2005. He then spent three seasons as head coach at Winnipeg, leading the Blue Bombers to a Grey Cup berth in 2007. Coincidentally, Berry was scheduled to be interviewed recently by Trestman about becoming the Als’ quarterbacks coach — until Trestman was interviewed by the Bears and Cleveland Browns.
“Coaching in the CFL is something I certainly want to keep doing,” Berry said. “They certainly know me. If I’m someone they want to consider, certainly I’d be interested. They know I would love to coach in Montreal again.”
Should Jones or Maciocia get hired, it’s conceivable either of them would hire Berry.
Notes — A source told The Gazette it’s 99 per cent certain Als assistant GM Marcel Desjardins will be hired as the GM in Ottawa. The city is expected to field an expansion franchise in 2014. Desjardins spent portions of two seasons as Hamilton’s GM. ... Popp said he could have an interest “at the right price” in slotback Arland Bruce and cornerback Byron Parker, both released by B.C. on Friday.