It’s a job that is regarded as the most important, highest-visibility role in the province of Saskatchewan.
And no, we are not talking about the premier.
We are talking about the head coach of the Saskatchewan Roughriders. This year Chris Jones starts his first full season as coach and also as general manager, and with him comes a staff and a team full of new faces, many from his former team the Edmonton Eskimos.
But while introducing the new coaching staff has become a tradition of Premier Brad Wall in the legislature, it is also woefully apparent that there is far more job security and job stability being in politics.
During Wall’s nearly nine years as premier, there have been six different Roughrider head coaches: Kent Austin, Ken Miller (on two occasions), Greg Marshall, Corey Chamblin, interim coach Bob Dyce and now Jones.
There has been even more turnover in the staffing and player ranks. But now the roster is set and the season is ready to go.
June 20, Premier Wall formally welcomed members of the Roughriders staff in an address in the legislature. The Hansard transcript of his remarks and those of opposition leader Trent Wotherspoon are as follows:
Hon. Mr. Wall: — Mr. Speaker, it is a great privilege to follow on a spring tradition that we’ve started a few years ago in the Legislative Assembly. That tradition would be to introduce the coaching staff for the Saskatchewan Roughriders and wish them well as the team embarks on a brand new season, Mr. Speaker.
And so it’s my privilege to introduce that group today.
Mr. Speaker, members of the House will know — it will cause us probably even pain again — that the last Grey Cup was won by the evil empire; I should say, the Edmonton Eskimos. So the Riders embarked on a great plan to go right into the evil empire and get their best, get their leaders and bring them back. I’m not sure if that makes Coach Jones a sort of a Darth Vader or not. I think that’s probably unfair. But boy, are we ever glad that he and so many of his colleagues and a number of players have joined us.
And so, Mr. Speaker, I do want to introduce each member of the coaching staff, if I may. And I would ask that they would maybe just stand and give members of the House a wave as we introduce them to the Assembly today. So, Mr. Speaker, we’ll start with the head coach and the general manager, vice-president of football operations, from Chattanooga, Tennessee, Coach Chris Jones. For those of us who’ve had the pleasure of talking to Coach Jones, he has a very, very thick accent, but I understand the Riders are putting out a Tennessee-English dictionary which we’ll all be able to use that’ll be . . .
Craig Reynolds is the team president and CEO [chief executive officer]. We want to welcome Craig back to his Assembly. Jeremy O’Day, no stranger to the Assembly, assistant vice-president of football operations and administration and the keeper of stories on the member for Regina Gardiner Park. If you’re looking for some stories, talk to Jeremy O’Day. John Murphy is assistant vice president of football operations and player personnel.
Stephen McAdoo is the offensive coordinator and the assistant coach. Craig Dickenson is back in Saskatchewan. We had a great special teams under his leadership; we’re going to have another great special teams year under Craig. He also coached with the Oakland Raiders, Mr. Speaker, the best team in the NFL [National Football League].
Jarious Jackson is here. He is the quarterback coach for the Riders this year. Markus Howell, receivers coach; Mike Scheper, the offensive line coach; Craig Davoren, he’s the running backs coach; Phillip Lolley, the linebackers coach; Jason Shivers, defensive backs; Ed Philion, defensive line; Clint Spencer, strength and conditioning coordinator. Merritt Bowden, Cam Robinson, Kent Maugeri, and Tyron Robinson are the quality control coaches, and we want to welcome them as well. Scott Annand is the football operations coordinator.
And also a guest coach for Rider camp this year is the long-time defensive coordinator for the U of S [University of Saskatchewan] Huskies. He’s been coaching defence there for 93 years I think, about now. His name is Ed Carleton, and he’s joined the Rider coaching staff.
Mr. Speaker, the Riders . . . There are many things that bring Saskatchewan people together that transcend all the divides in the province, but perhaps none with the consistency of the Saskatchewan Roughriders. They really do bring this entire province together, not just during the season but during the off-season.
And so we want to wish these coaches and their charges all the best in the upcoming season. For those who are new to the province, we want to welcome them here. We hope they’ve enjoyed Saskatchewan hospitality and will continue to enjoy it. And I would just ask members of the House to join with me in welcoming the coaching staff to the Legislative Assembly today.
The Speaker: —I recognize the Leader of the Opposition.
Mr. Wotherspoon: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It’s an honour to join with the Premier here today and welcome these esteemed guests and leaders within our province to their Assembly. The Premier’s quite right: this is something that forges political divides, that usually in this Assembly we have fierce political debate. Here we have unanimous support for the legendary team that makes all of us proud.
We’ve come through the period of spring in the province where that embodiment of hard work and optimism was on full display at, certainly Riders’ training camp and into the pre-season. And certainly on display as well, it’s small-town football camps and high school football camps all across our province. Spring seeding; it’s sort of a special time in Saskatchewan of hard work and of optimism.
It’s a real honour to welcome all of these coaches here today. I won’t introduce and welcome all of them specifically, but it is a pleasure to welcome, and I don’t think I would have said this a year ago, but Mr. Chris Jones. Coach, thank you so much for your leadership you’ll provide to the team. Yes, hailing from the evil empire of most recent, but thank you for your leadership here in the province. Thank you as well to Craig Reynolds, CEO and president, native of Foam Lake, Saskatchewan, a great business mind and a real leader on that team. And of course, Jeremy O’Day, someone who patrolled that O-line [offensive line] with force and was a fierce competitor who’s still continuing to provide leadership to this organization.
We know that sometimes we talk about there’s a level of scrutiny on us as public officials. Certainly there is for the Premier. I think that the level of scrutiny that falls onto the shoulders of Mr. Jones, Coach Jones, exceeds that of the Premier, and we wish him well in the time ahead. This team is beloved by Saskatchewan people with the exception of the odd call-in show to Rod and Carm, at, you know, on Rider Radio after the odd game. But we want to wish you well. Thank you for continuing this proud legacy. We wish you nothing but the best in 2016. We stand here in unanimous support as full members of Rider nation. Green
