Montreal – The Montreal Alouettes announced on Wednesday that the club has added William Fields to its coaching staff. The 37-year-old will tackle the roles of Assistant Defensive Backs Coach and Defensive Quality Control Coach.

Fields, who played for six seasons in the CFL, made his coaching debut in the Canadian circuit in 2015 as he was the BC Lions Assistant Defensive Backs Coach and Defensive Quality Control Coach. The McKeesport, PA native saw his protégés finish tied for second place in the League with 23 interceptions, including a league-leading six that belonged to defensive back Ryan Philips.

“We welcome William to the Alouettes family. His experience in the CFL as a player and as a new coach will make him a quick study with our program and with the upcoming minicamp,” declared Alouettes General Manager and Head Coach Jim Popp. “He will get some individual time with the defensive backs and help free up Coach Thorpe so he can spend time were needed with the entire defence.”

Prior to joining the Lions’ coaching staff, Fields was the Defensive Backs Coach with the Simon Fraser University Clan who were coached by Jacques Chapdelaine. The two coaches will once again be colleagues in Montreal.

Fields made his coaching debut at Cypress Christian High School in Houston, where he was the defensive backs coach from 2010 to 2013 seasons. As a player in the CFL, Fields played four seasons for the Calgary Stampeders between 2001 and 2004, where he amassed 169 defensive tackles in 69 games, while intercepting nine passes. He played the following two seasons for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, adding 51 defensive tackles and four interceptions to his totals. He won the Grey Cup in 2001 at Olympic Stadium in Montreal with the Stampeders.