RICHIE HALL
Riders oust defensive co-ordinator
REGINA — Richie Hall personified grace under fire, even if he technically wasn’t fired as the Saskatchewan Roughriders’ defensive coordinator.
Head coach Corey Chamblin announced Tuesday that Hall wouldn’t return as the CFL team’s defensive coordinator in 2015. Chamblin said it would be Hall’s option if he wanted to return in an undetermined role after a new defensive co-ordinator was hired.
Hall then answered all of the questions from the media after Chamblin had retreated to his Mosaic Stadium office. It was a remarkable display of class by Hall in what must have been a difficult situation.
“This is the end of the year throughout the CFL,’’ said Hall, who has spent 23 years as a player or co-ordinator with the Riders and contributed to three of the team’s Grey Cup victories. “There is a lot of uncertainty with a lot of teams because this is the time of year regarding change. This year isn’t any different than any other year. It’s not any different than when February comes around for the players regarding free agency. There is a process that you go through. We have to allow the process to occur and let whatever happens happen.’’
That included meeting with the media while dealing with the uncertainty regarding his football future.
“It’s part of life,’’ said the 54-year-old Hall, who didn’t rule out landing a job with another CFL team as a defensive co-ordinator or assistant coach position.
“Whatever you do in life, you have to take the good with the bad. The community and the media have all been supportive of Richie Hall. When things don’t go Richie Hall’s way, it can’t be a one-sided thing.’’
It sounded like Hall and Chamblin had a good relationship during their three seasons together with the Riders. Hall talked about the bond that he and Chamblin had and how the two worked well together since Chamblin was hired as a head coach. Those ties weren’t enough to keep Hall in the position of defensive co-ordinator.
“I don’t think it was something you can pinpoint,’’ Hall said when asked what took place during the 2014 season which contributed to the change at defensive co-ordinator. “Change isn’t always bad. I look at when you make change that it’s always for the positive. Any time there is change to be made there is going to be someone that benefits from it and someone who doesn’t. Whatever the changes are going into the 2015 season will benefit whoever is the defensive co-ordinator.’’
Chamblin would prefer to hire a full-time defensive co-ordinator. If that doesn’t happen, Chamblin would take over as the defensive co-ordinator. Chamblin was the defensive co-ordinator with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in 2011 before being hired as Saskatchewan’s head coach.
“I’ve had a heavy hand in the defence and it’s one of those things where I’m going to be totally in or totally out and be more than an overseer,’’ said Chamblin, who called some of the defensive plays during the 2014 season. “That’s the point where I’m at in my career as a head coach and dealing with defence. Looking forward, the philosophy is good there, but there are some minor things that need changing. I just want to move forward with a new structure and a new foundation.’’