Off Topic » Rick Campbell as their inaugural head coach

The Ottawa Redblacks are looking at the architect of the CFLs most aggressive defence as their first-ever head coach. TSN has confirmed the Redblacks have settled upon Calgary Stampeders defensive co-ordinator Rick Campbell as their inaugural head coach. Ottawa is scheduled to return to the CFL in 2014. Campbell is a 15-year CFL coaching veteran but the Ottawa appointment would be his first as a head coach. Campbell is the third CFL head coach to be hired this off-season behind Edmontons Chris Jones and Winnipegs Mike OShea. All three are first-time CFL head coaches. Campbell is the son of legendary Edmonton Eskimos head coach and executive Hugh Campbell and has spent the last two years as Calgarys defensive co-ordinator. This past season, Calgary recorded a CFL-best 63 sacks en route to posting a league-best 14-4 record. But the Stampeders lost 35-13 to eventual Grey Cup-champion Saskatchewan in the West Division final. Campbell had been mentioned as a leading candidate for Edmontons head-coaching job, which went to Jones. Campbell succeeded Jones as Calgarys defensive co-ordinator in 2012 when Jones left to join the Toronto Argonauts. Also reportedly considered for the Ottawa job were former CFL head coaches Paul LaPolice, Greg Marshall, Doug Berry, Marcel Bellefeuille and Danny Maciocia. This past season, Calgary boasted two of the CFLs top pass rushers in Charleston Hughes (league-high 18 sacks) and Cordarro Law (third with 14). Hughes was both a West Division and CFL all-star in 2013. Hughes and Law also anchored a defence that forced a league-high 11 turnovers on downs and was second in fewest points allowed (22.9 per game). In its first year under Campbells guidance, Calgarys defence was second in sacks (43) and third in points allowed (23.9 per game). Campbell joined the Stampeders staff in 2010 as their running backs coach. That year Calgary boasted the leagues top ground attack with 2,618 rushing yards. In 2011, Campbell was Edmontons assistant head coach and special-teams co-ordinator. He has spent the bulk of his CFL coaching career -- 11 years in fact -- with Edmonton, having served as an assistant head coach, special-teams co-ordinator, secondary coach and defensive co-ordinator during that time. Campbell won Grey Cups with the Eskimos in 2003 and 05. Campbell also served as a special-teams co-ordinator and defensive backs coach with Winnipeg in 09. Prior to coming to the CFL, Campbell was secondary and special-teams coach at the University of Oregon as a graduate assistant from 96-98. Now with a head coach in tow, the Redblacks can look ahead to the CFL expansion draft Dec. 16. Ottawa will select 24 players (eight imports, 16 Canadians) over three rounds. The Redblacks will take eight imports in the first round before selecting eight Canadians in each of the final two. 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Alouettes owner Bob Wetenhall announced Monday that Tom Higgins will be the clubs new head coach. The former Edmonton Eskimos and Calgary Stampeders bench boss replaces general manager Jim Popp, who took over on Aug. 1 when the inexperienced Dan Hawkins was fired only five games into the 2013 season. Wetenhall made it clear in a statement that he did not want Popp, who is considered one of the CFLs best GMs but has a career 16-20 record as a coach, to continue in both jobs. "As Ive expressed to the media in recent weeks, I wanted to continue with the formula which has brought us the success weve enjoyed these past 17 years -- having a full-time head coach and a full-time general manager to fill each of these positions," said Wetenhall. "The criteria we established was to find an individual familiar with the CFL; someone with success in that position and a background as a position coach. In addition, we sought an individual with a record for moulding and delivering championship teams. "In Toms seven years as a head coach he won three division championships along with a Grey Cup, and twice earned recognition as the CFLs coach of the year. His head coaching record of 72-53-1 speaks for itself. We welcome Tom to the Alouettes family." Popp had made no secret of wanting to continue coaching, but Wetenhall put out a statement recently saying candidates would be interviewed. A year ago, the Alouettes waited until Feb. 19 to name Hawkins, a former U.S. university coach with no experience of the Canadian game. He was 2-3 when he was fired with the team in disarray. Popp, the Alouettes GM since they returned to Montreal in 1996, took over as coach for the third time in his career and went 6-7. It marked only the second time since 1996 the teamm had a losing record, matching the 8-10 mark Popp put up in his only full season as head coach in 2007.dddddddddddd It hurt that starting quarterback Anthony Calvillo was lost for the season in August to a concussion. This time, the team waited five days longer to name a new coach and came up with Higgins, who stepped down in December after five years as the CFLs director of officiating. Higgins did not even get introduced at a press conference. The club said "time constraints and personal obligations" prevented bringing him to Montreal for the announcement, but that he will talk to the media Tuesday on a conference call. He takes over a team that will not have CFL all-time passing leader Calvillo as its starter for the first time since 2000. Instead, 2006 Heisman Trophy winner Troy Smith and young prospect Tanner Marsh are pegged to replace the retired future Hall of Famer. Higgins, who will turn 60 on July 13, led the Eskimos to 13-5 records twice and won a Grey Cup in 2003 in his four years with the club. He had a 28-25 record in three seasons in Calgary from 2005 to 2007. "Tom has worked with and tutored many of the CFLs finest quarterbacks -- Doug Flutie, Henry Burris and Ricky Ray, to mention a few," said team president Mark Weightman. "His expertise will be invaluable in the development of Troy Smith and Tanner Marsh." Higgins has spent 23 years in various CFL jobs, including a stint as GM in Edmonton. A native of Woodbridge, N.J., and a former linebacker and defensive tackle, Higgins played for Calgary and Saskatchewan in the 1970s. Popp replaced Rod Rust as coach at the end of the 2001 season, but gave way for Don Matthews the following season. He stepped in again when Matthews left for health reasons in 2006. Marc Trestman, now coach of the Chicago Bears, coached the club from 2008-2012, winning two Grey Cups. 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