My colleague B次元官网网址� B.C. Lions color analyst Giulio Caravatta B次元官网网址� created quite the firestorm last Thursday when he told B次元官网网址楧onnie and DhaliB次元官网网址� on CHEK TV that the Lions would make an announcement on Monday that current Assistant General Manager and Director of U.S. Scouting Ryan Rigmaiden would have an elevated role B次元官网网址� in all likelihood being named the Lions general manager.
Connecting the dots was pretty easy with this one.
Rigmaiden turned down a request to interview for the Edmonton Elks general managerB次元官网网址檚 job. Not interviewing for an elevated position was a clear sign that the Lions have plans to promote Rigmaiden.
With that in mind, many are wondering about the future of head coach Rick Campbell and co-general manager Neil McEvoy.
McEvoy is a Lions lifer. He just finished his 29th season with the organization and will probably remain with the team in a restructured role.
Campbell probably wonB次元官网网址檛 be as fortunate.
LionsB次元官网网址� owner Amar Doman didnB次元官网网址檛 exactly give Campbell a vote of confidence after accepting the CFL CommissionerB次元官网网址檚 Award on Thursday.
B次元官网网址淓verythingB次元官网网址檚 up for discussion after every season. There are going to be sit-downs after the Grey Cup is done. We just havenB次元官网网址檛 had that opportunity yet. We have been busy and havenB次元官网网址檛 been able to do the deep dive to review the season and see what the future looks like,B次元官网网址� explained Doman, who will convene with Lions President Duane Vienneau to discuss the situation.
We thought Campbell might have accumulated enough currency after back-to-back 12-win seasons to ride this out but apparently thatB次元官网网址檚 not the case after going 9-9. Throw in the fact that he has one-year remaining on his deal and you can see why the club wouldnB次元官网网址檛 want a lame duck coach.
If the rumour mill is to be believed, Campbell wonB次元官网网址檛 be unemployed for long.
New Edmonton owner Larry Thompson is big on restoring the rich history of the Eskimos and connecting it to the Elks. Former Eskimo great Ed HerveyB次元官网网址檚 name keeps surfacing in regards to the general managerB次元官网网址檚 job and how better to reconnect to the teamB次元官网网址檚 past than by bringing in Campbell, whose father Hugh coached the Eskimos to five consecutive Grey Cup championships from 1978 to 1982.
Throw in the fact that former Lions president Rick LeLacheur is currently an advisor to Thompson and a big fan of CampbellB次元官网网址檚 and you can see this happening. Remember, it was LeLacheur who brought Campbell to B.C. to replace Devone Claybrooks as head coach.
If Campbell is indeed hired, donB次元官网网址檛 be shocked to see Lions offensive coordinator Jordan Maksymic follow him across the Rockies. Maksymic, a St. Albert native, broke into the CFL coaching ranks as a video coordinator with Edmonton in 2011.
And if those two move to Edmonton, do the Elks make a strong push to acquire quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. from the Lions?
Either that or Campbell and Maksymic decide to give Tre Ford a legitimate shot to be the starter. Ford, an impending free agent, has set his criteria for signing with a team and that is to have the ability to compete and earn the #1 spot.
The Edmonton situation will play itself out quickly as reports indicate that newly appointed Edmonton President Chris Morris has set a deadline of Nov. 24 for having a new general manager in place.
If Campbell is indeed Edmonton-bound, who takes over as head coach in B.C.?
DonB次元官网网址檛 be shocked if itB次元官网网址檚 former Lions quarterback Buck Pierce.
Pierce might want to run his own show after spending the last decade with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in several different coaching positions - the latest being the teamB次元官网网址檚 offensive coordinator since 2020. Pierce also has some history with Rigmaiden as the latter spent three years with the Bombers organization from 2018 to 2020 before returning to the Lions.
Pierce was approached by some teams last season but he was given a raise and an extension by the Bombers to keep him within the organization. However, the Bombers are on record as saying that they wouldnB次元官网网址檛 stand in the way of someone moving to another team as long as the move was a vertical one.
Other names that have come up in discussion are Paul LaPolice and Orlondo Steinauer.
Currently with TSN, LaPolice has had stints as a head coach with the Bombers and the Ottawa RedBlacks and is residing in Ottawa. Steinauer, meanwhile, is the President of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats but there has been talk that he might be interested in getting back into coaching. Steinauer coached the Ti-Cats from 2019 to 2023 and guided the Tabbies to a couple of Grey Cup appearances before moving into the front office prior to last season. Steinauer does have roots in the Pacific Northwest having attended high school in Bothell, Washington and having played collegiately at Western Washington University.
One thing is for sure: things will move quickly.
The fate of Campbell could be determined as early as Monday with the coaching staff being informed within 24 to 48 hours. After that, look for a formal announcement at a press conference as early as Wednesday.
As for the new head coach, we might have to wait a little while for that decision. Then again, maybe not.
Doman didnB次元官网网址檛 get to where he is in the business world by sitting on the sideline and waiting.
Veteran B.C. sports personality Bob B次元官网网址渢he MojB次元官网网址� Marjanovich writes twice weekly for Black Press Media.
