Jerry’s sorry, but he has to go
The Hamilton Tiger-Cats will not rush into a quick decision on replacing defensive coordinator Jerry Glanville.
Glanville, the 77-year-old coaching legend, told the Ticats earlier in the week that he might not be able to return to the team for 2019 because he needs to deal with a personal issue and he confirmed that later in the week.
The Ticats, who had begun asking other CFL teams to talk to some of their personnel about the vacant post, went public with Glanville’s decision late Friday afternoon.
“We knew it would be out there as soon as we asked to speak to other people,” newlynamed head coach Orlondo Steinauer told The Spectator.
“I wanted Jerry back as our defensive coordinator, seeing all year how the guys played so hard for him. I like what he did with our defence.”
Mike Benevides, the erstwhile Edmonton Eskimos’ defensive coordinator who could not come to terms for 2019, could be one of the candidates as could Mark Washington, the B.C. Lions’ defensive coordinator. Steinauer would not comment on possible replacements for Glanville.
Glanville’s one-year contract was set to run out at the end of December but when Steinauer was officially unveiled as head coach Monday — stepping up from assistant head coach while June Jones stepped down to offensive coordinator duties only — he emphasized that he wanted Glanville back as defen-
sive coordinator, ensuring that there would be continuity in the top three of the coaching pyramid.
Based on Steinauer’s strong public support, it’s likely the Ticats were already talking contract with Glanville for 2019.
Steinauer stressed two points: that the 77-year-old Glanville’s health is not the issue (“He’s more energetic than any of us”); and that this was solely about Glanville’s personal needs and not related to the impending CFL cap on coaching and front office staff and salaries.
Each team will be allowed only 11 coaches and 14 other non-medical football operations staff for next year, all of whom must fit under the yearly $2.59-million cap. Hamilton CEO Scott Mitchell told The Spectator Monday that his team would be able to meet that cap, and that was with Glanville still in the mix.
Steinauer is about to embark on a week’s holiday but will be working on the coordinator search during that break.
Steinauer spent four years as Kent Austin’s defensive coordinator before taking a similar position with Fresno State in 2017. He returned to Hamilton last February to be groomed as Jones’ replacement. That scenario arrived a year or two ahead of schedule with Jones’ recent decision to divest himself of the head coaching portfolio to concentrate on offence.
Steinauer wants to start out as a head coach without a coordinator’s responsibility, so he can move freely among offensive, defensive and special team matters.
“We want to do this with the right people,” he said of finding a new defensive coordinator. “Xs and O’s are important but it’s also important how the coaching staff gets along. We’re not going to go 18-0, so there is bound to be some adversity.
“I’m not in a hurry, we want to make the right decision, but at the same time we’re working hard on it.
“I’m not of the mind that I want to be the coordinator. But that would also depend upon how the search goes. If we as an organization decide I need to do it ... then maybe.”
Steinauer says he is not locked into one type of candidate for the job.
“I’m open to a young guy but I’m also not shy about people who have more experience than I do,” he said. “And I’m not opposed to bringing in someone to give them a good opportunity here.”
He added that he wants to retain Frank Gansz Jr., who started training camp as a special teams adviser but ended it as the coordinator. The team has given him a bit of time to consider whether he wants to return to Hamilton for 2019.
Glanville’s coaching career started at Western Kentucky University in 1967. Since then, he’s had head and assistant roles with the NFL’s Detroit Lions, Atlanta Falcons, Buffalo Bills and Houston Oilers as well as at several colleges.
“I hate that I won’t be able to come back to Hamilton next season to finish what we started in 2018,” Glanville said in a statement. “The future is bright because there are so many good people and great players throughout the organization. I will be a TigerCat for life.”
Steinauer said, “Jerry came up here and made us all better. I want to thank him for that and for being who he is.”