Coaching Carousel (CFL changes)

CFL Talk
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Obviously, this is a speculative thread but much of what we do as fans and pseudo-commentators is speculation. Some of it impure.

Here’s some coaching possibilities for 2025 - and beyond.

We begin with the premise that Chris Jones is no longer employable as a head coach. I was surprised Hamilton picked him off the scrap heap to be their defensive coach. I suspect Mr. Jones is slyly eye-balling head coaching opportunities both North & South.

  1. Mike O’Shea - this isn’t speculation but question. How much would another CFL team have to offer Mr. O’Shea, over and above his current Bomber salary to lure him to their fiefdom?
    I suspect $200,000 more with a 5 year guarantee might do it - unless Wad Miller matches. But make no mistake, while O’Shea is now entrenched as Winnipeg legend, he isn’t a guarandamteed certainty. Bud Grant wasn’t. Cal Murphy wasn’t.

  2. Ryan Dinwiddie - if Toronto brought in O’Shea that would free up Dinwiddie. I think DInwiddie might arguably be the 2nd best coach roaming CFL sidelines. Edmonton, Hamilton and possibly BC would be potential destinations.

  3. Noel Thorpe - the 2nd biggest name amongst assistants. We’d have to see how the landscape checks out after the top guys settle.

  4. Jordan Younger - massive wild card. I think he’s happy working behind O’Shea. Be quite a battle between the acolytes if O’Shea left - ie. Younger, Pierce, etc. for the headmaster’s job.

  5. Dave Dickenson - frankly, I think this guy’s days as a CFL head coach are numbered. He’s turned into a crazy sideline hothead. Thats not good.

  6. Craig DIckenson - a non-starter

  7. Paul LaPolice - another possible as there’s no question his football IQ is perhaps the highest amongst current and past coaches. His fear of problem players is the #1 concern.

  8. Bob Dyce - an early ESF exit this year won’t look good to RBs ownership. If he gets to EF or beyond he’ll be re-upped for at least 2 years.

The CFL coaching dominos will really topple if somebody makes a successful play on O’Shea. Don’t think Pierce & Younger will both stay on staff if one of them is selected to replace O’Shea.

Wildcard coaches:

  • Henry Burris
  • Bo-Levi Mitchell
  • Buck Pierce
  • Adam Bighill

the latter 4 guys all less than 10% chance to be head coaches in 2024. I’d rate Bo & Buck around 20%

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Bo Levi is under contract to play next year. Why would there be a 20% chance he’s a head coach?

I’d say there’s a 0% chance.

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Bob Dyce ain’t going anywhere. This is the most stability the RBs have had in half a decade. Changing the coach will just implode that. He’ll be given a leash similar to O’Shea’s early days in Winnipeg.

Dave Dickenson is both a GM and a coach. He’d have to be fired from both to be replaced. I honestly don’t think their ownership cares enough to do it. They’re too busy managing the Flames. If it was any other team besides Toronto and Calgary, he’d be gone by now.

Unless Mike O’Shea feels betrayed by the rest of the Canadian Mafia, I can’t foresee him moving on. I don’t think he wants to take the time with another team trying to instill his values unless its already there to some degree. That knocks out Calgary as a destination.

Surprised that Jordan Maksymic’s name (BC OC) hasn’t popped up on your list.

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“just retired” players aren’t good candidates for HC. Have to cut their teeth on assistant jobs first. Lancaster “inherited” a disaster-team after his playing days, and made them worse, if that was possible.
And wearing two hats GM/HC is an accident waiting to happen. The perspective of each is completely different.

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