SIX GAMES TO PROVE HIMSELF
Chapdelaine has tough road as Als’ interim coach
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The call that forever changed Jacques Chapdelaine’s life — time will tell whether it was for the good or bad — came last Saturday, after flying home to Abbotsford, B.C., following the Alouettes’ ninth defeat in 12 games the night before at Hamilton.
Chapdelaine recognized the number — it was owner Robert Wetenhall’s; his son, Andrew, the team’s lead governor, on the extension. They didn’t talk at great length that day, but Wetenhall made it clear a coaching change was coming, the Als having reached the end of the line with general manager Jim Popp. After conversing with Popp, who will remain GM, the dialogue continued Sunday with the Wetenhalls and Chapdelaine became Montreal’s interim head coach — and the first francophone to hold the position — for the remaining six games.
The Sherbrooke native is 55 and has never been a head coach at the pro level, although he held the title at Université Laval and Simon Fraser University, his alma mater. The Rouge et Or won their first Vanier Cup with Chapdelaine at the controls in 1999.
After the following season, he and Laval parted ways. In part, the school’s administrators didn’t want to lose Glen Constantin, the team’s defensive coordinator, to another school. But Chapdelaine also didn’t play well with others. That has been somewhat of a recurring theme during his career — he lasted one year at Edmonton, in 2007, where he was the offensive co-ordinator and assistant head coach under Danny Maciocia — despite producing some formidable attacks that consisted of star individual performances.
“You know how his people skills are,” said Wally Buono, GM and head coach of the B.C. Lions, who worked with Chapdelaine in Vancouver and in Calgary. “This, I believe, is one of his demises. You can be an asshole, yet still be personable.”
But for everyone who will tell you Chapdelaine might not be warm and fuzzy, there are others who swear by him.
“I think the world of Jacques,” said Geroy Simon, the Canadian Football League’s career leading receiver who works in the Lions’ front office as a scout and personnel assistant. “I’ve been around coaches I didn’t have belief in. Once I met him and was around him, I realized the guy’s smart and I’m going to take every ounce of knowledge he has.
“A lot of people misunderstood him out here, and he comes across as standoffish at times. If you don’t have the right approach, he’s going to let you know. He’s not afraid of confrontation. He’s not afraid to speak his mind or back down. That’s what you want from a coach. You need someone to calm the ship — gently or by knocking someone over the head. He’s able to do that. He’s not going to be warm and cuddly at first. But once you get to know him, he’s great.”
Chapdelaine acknowledges he might have been misunderstood in the past — and offers no apologies. It certainly proved to be no hindrance in Montreal, not initially when he was hired as the receivers coach and special assistant to offensive coordinator Anthony Calvillo last winter, or now, when he leapfrogged assistant head coaches Kavis Reed and Noel Thorpe, as well as the inexperienced Calvillo.
While his bilingualism served Chapdelaine well in securing this promotion from an organization that needs any positive exposure it can get, it might not matter if the Als and their struggling offence don’t show improvement over the final third of the schedule. Ironically, Chapdelaine, who has worked steadily in the CFL for four teams since 2001, has worked exclusively in English, saying his French is far from perfect.
Chapdelaine also is well aware of exactly what he’s getting into. The Als were 6-12 last season and missed the playoffs. And, at 3-9 this year, a similar result appears inevitable. And, while Popp figures to spend most of the next two months at home in North Carolina, he probably will continue to decide who plays — potentially handcuffing Chapdelaine’s efforts.
“It’s not an easy situation. I’m not fooling myself. You usually take over a head-coaching job when you’re at the bottom of the ladder,” said Chapdelaine. “I have an opportunity. I’m at a point and place in my career where I may not get this opportunity again. It’s not the greatest possible situation, in terms of the platform I have. The reality is this: people don’t usually look for a coach unless the team has had some challenges. Very few people get to step in and replace a coach who retires after winning a Grey Cup.”
The Als are about to inherit arguably the smartest head coach they’ve had since Marc Trestman, who graduated with a law degree from the University of Miami. Chapdelaine, who has been married for 33 years — which might be his greatest accomplishment, considering the nomadic existence of coaches — has a degree in kinesiology. He required three courses for a minor in mathematics.
“Guys who operate in science are usually more black-and-white than grey. That fits my personality,” said Chapdelaine.
He’ll intellectually challenge his players. Chapdelaine understands the power of the mind, just as he realizes the power of understanding how someone’s ability to adjust will ultimately affect his performance and onfield success.
Chapdelaine wouldn’t say whether he’ll begin calling the plays for Calvillo until he has spoken to his OC — which likely means he will. Rakeem Cato, despite two recent practice meltdowns, will remain the Als’ starting quarterback, not that many options exist.
“You need to understand you’re going to care (about) and respect the players. That’s the first line of proper communication,” Chapdelaine explained. “Try to put them always in the best position to have positive results. If you can do that, you’re holding up your end of the deal. You need a vision. To give that vision some direction, you have to make some decisions. You have to have a strong level of conviction. You have to execute those decisions.
“I do believe we can have success by changing a little bit of the structure as to how we do things. I’m not saying it’s right or wrong — but it’s right for me. With the help, support and collaboration of the coaches, I believe it’ll be the best light I can put on our players and ourselves, as an organization, toward a path to success.”