Riders offensive co-ordinator hadn’t expected to become coach
Stephen McAdoo has come a long way since his playing days in the CFL.
The playing career of the Saskatchewan Roughriders’ offensive co-ordinator and assistant head coach kicked off in 1994 where he was an offensive lineman with the Shreveport Pirates.
He spent two seasons with the Pirates before the CFL pulled the plug on its expansion into the United States.
A lingering back injury forced McAdoo into retiring after the 1995 season. Despite the failed expansion bid, McAdoo enjoyed his time with the Pirates, who were among the least-successful expansion teams on and off the field.
On the field, the Pirates were a combined 8-28 over their two seasons in Shreveport.
The team was owned by Bernie and Lonie Glieberman, whose off-field moves contributed to the team’s demise.
For example, general manager J. I. Albrecht hired John Huard as head coach in 1994. The Gliebermans overruled Albrecht and installed Forrest Gregg as head coach before the team played its first game. Under Gregg, the Pirates didn’t win their first game until Week 15 of the 1995 season.
“Football is football and even with the situation back then, which wasn’t the greatest of situations, the camaraderie with the players was still there,’’ McAdoo said. “We didn’t win a lot of games, but it was a fun time.’
A year after retiring, McAdoo landed his first coaching position as the tight ends coach at Middle Tennessee State University.
“I never thought that coaching would be a career for me,’’ McAdoo said. “I looked at the hours they put in and I was sure that it wasn’t for me.’’
Despite his initial reluctance, it has been quite the journey for McAdoo — who is in 16th year of coaching.
“I don’t come to work, I come to play,’’ said the 45-year-old McAdoo. “This is a blast every day because of the players and the guys who I get to work with. You don’t get an atmosphere around here like this too many times and everywhere that we have been is something special.’’
A common thread through much of McAdoo’s coaching career has been Chris Jones, the Riders’ general manager, head coach and vicepresident of football operations. The two met for the first time in 1999 at Tennessee Tech University, where Jones was the defensive line coach and recruiting co-ordinator and McAdoo coached tight ends.
“(McAdoo) is one of my best friends,’’ Jones said. “Every person out here has some common denominator or they wouldn’t be out there.’’
Jones and McAdoo found themselves together on a CFL coaching staff for the first time in 2003. Jones was in his first season as the Montreal Alouettes’ defensive coordinator and McAdoo was hired as the offensive line and running backs coach.
Jones and McAdoo remained with the Alouettes through the 2006 season. McAdoo then stepped away from coaching to pursue other business interests.
He returned in 2010 and was the Toronto Argonauts’ offensive line coach until 2013. Jones and McAdoo were reunited in Toronto when Jones was hired as the Argonauts’ defensive co-ordinator in 2012.
In 2014, Jones was named the head coach of the Edmonton Eskimos and convinced McAdoo to join him as Edmonton’s offensive co-ordinator. After sharing in Edmonton’s 26-20 win over the Ottawa Redblacks in the 2015 Grey Cup game, Jones and all but one member of the Eskimos’ coaching staff moved to the Roughriders. Jones appreciates the consistency that comes with working with a longtime colleague.
“I know exactly what we’re doing every single day,’’ Jones said. “During a game, I know what plays are going to be run, but it’s up to him when he wants to run them.’’
One of McAdoo’s career goals is to become a head coach. It’s a role that Scott Milanovich, who was the head coach of the Argonauts during McAdoo’s tenure in Toronto, figures he would do well in.
“(McAdoo) is a natural leader and he has a lot of the same characteristics as Chris,’’ Milanovich said. “It’s not all about Steve and he doesn’t care about getting his picture in the paper. He was a great player in his day and he understands what it takes. I’ve always thought he would be a great head coach if someone gave him a chance.’’
Until then, McAdoo is content in his current role.
“I do what I do where I do it,’’ said McAdoo, who has a 25-yearold daughter Chastity with his wife Kacey. “If someone likes what I do, then we will talk then. Right now my job is make this offence be the best it can be and try to win some Grey Cups.’’