The Winnipeg Blue Bombers are wasting no time in moving forward in their search for a new defensive co-ordinator. The Saskatchewan Roughriders confirmed this morning that Bombers head coach Mike O’Shea has asked for permission to speak with Riders assistant Richie Hall and it was granted. Sources have also told the Free Pressthe Bombers have been in contact with former B.C. Lions coach Mike Benevides. Hall won three Grey Cups with the Roughriders, one as a player and two as a defensive co-ordinator but was recently stripped of his title. To date, Hall has been retained by the Riders but his future role with the club is unknown. Benevides was fired this offseason from his post as head coach of the B.C. Lions after leading the team to the playoffs in three straight seasons, never enduring a losing campaign and compiling a 31-22 record. Benevides has won three Grey Cups, one with Calgary as special teams co-ordinator and two with BC first as linebackers coach and then as defensive co-ordinator. Speaking to Benevides at the Grey Cup he said he’s be interested in taking a co-ordinator position if the situation was right. Whether Winnipeg fits into that category is unknown. Text and voice messages to Benevides have not been immediately returned. O’Shea said on Wednesday after firing defensive co-ordinator Gary Etcheverry that he didn’t feel rushed to hire a new defensive leader but with candidates of this caliber on the street it’s hard to imagine him moving slowly. These are elite defensive coaches and they’ll be snapped up sooner rather than later.
Posted on: Thu, 18 Dec 2014 18:03:55 +0000
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