The Saskatchewan Roughriders have reached an agreement with former Edmonton Eskimos sideline boss Chris Jones to become the new head coach and general manager.
The four-time Grey Cup champion will also act as the club’s defensive coordinator.
Jones was linked to the Riders almost immediately after winning the 103rd Grey Cup as the head coach of the Edmonton Eskimos. The Riders were initially granted permission to speak to Jones, who will now take on the added responsibility of being a general manager.
“Chris comes with an outstanding track record of success as a defensive coordinator, a head coach and in player personnel,” said Craig Reynolds, Riders president and CEO.
Jones has been a CFL coach for 14 seasons and has never missed the playoffs, reaching the division finals 12 times, making seven Grey Cup appearances and winning a Grey Cup with four teams.
“This franchise has every opportunity to be successful and we’re committed to working hard to deliver championships for our incredible fans and building towards sustained success for this football club,” said Reynolds. “We’ve taken an important step towards that goal.”
The Riders dismissed head coach Corey Chamblin and general manager Brendan Taman at the end of August after the team started the season 0-9.
Bob Dyce took over as head coach after that and Jeremy O’Day as GM, both on an interim basis, while president and CEO Craig Reynolds took the time to search for a long-term solution.
While Reynolds explored many avenues, including the possibility of having O’Day and Dyce back in the fold, he couldn’t pass on the opportunity to bring in a proven winner in Jones.
A disciple of coaching great Don Matthews, Jones was hired by the Eskimos after being a catalyst in the Argos’ historic 100th Grey Cup win on home turf in 2012. Taking his aggressive coaching style and focus on young international talent to Edmonton, he led the Eskimos from a 4-14 season in 2013 to a 12-6 record a year later and a second-place finish in the West.
Jones said that he’ll feel at home in Regina. “Football matters a whole lot down south and it matters a whole lot here and that hinged on my decision. Not many people get this opportunity and I’m certainly grateful.”
“I woke up this morning with a smile in my face,” he added. “I look forward to being able to put together a really good football team and put together a coaching staff and an organization that I know the fans will be proud of.”
For a Riders team coming off a three-win season, one of its worst seasons in franchise history, hiring Jones to fulfill both roles was a no-brainer. The veteran coach has proven he can turn a team around quick, and he’ll be busy out of the gate on a team currently with 32 players due to hit free agency.
While some difficult decisions await with the likes of Anthony Allen, Rob Bagg, Tyron Brackenridge, Chris Getzlaf, Alex Hall and Ryan Smith among others all hitting free agency, Jones has a chance to make Saskatchewan competitive right away and build the Riders in his preferred mold.
Jones also has a good starting point with veteran pivot Darian Durant poised to return under centre for the start of the year, a valuable asset for any coach taking over a team for the first time.
