LAS VEGAS

The CFL’s assistant coaching carousel is spinning at a frenetic pace, with co-ordinators and position bosses packing up and finding new addresses throughout the three-down loop.

Sportsnet’s Arash Madani reported new Roughriders GM and head coach Chris Jones will be taking his entire staff to Regina, including special teams co-ordinator Craig Dickenson. That is noteworthy because his brother, Dave Dickenson, is the new head coach in Calgary, and Craig had the option to join the Stampeders staff.

Jones hasn’t named his staff yet, but it’s clear the previous Riders coaching staff will be looking for work. That includes interim head coach Bob Dyce, who has been both an offensive and special teams co-ordinator in the league, and offensive co-ordinator Jacques Chapdelaine.

Saskatchewan defensive co-ordinator Greg Quick saw the writing on the wall and resigned his post last week.

He rejoined the Alouettes on Tuesday as their linebackers coach after being in that same position for the 2014 campaign.

Alouettes GM and head coach Jim Popp also elevated special teams co-ordinator Kavis Reed to assistant head coach.

The Eskimos are the only team in need of a head coach, and RedBlacks offensive co-ordinator Jason Maas will be the front runner for that job until he’s not.

The Bombers introduced Paul LaPolice as their new offensive co-ordinator on Tuesday morning, marking his third stint with the Blue and Gold, and his first since he was fired as head coach in August 2012.

Now that Rich Stubler has left the Stampeders to become the Argos defensive co-ordinator again, the Calgary Sun’s Scott Mitchell reported defensive line coach DeVone Claybrooks will get a promotion to replace Stubler as the defensive boss in Cowtown.

The Stampeders, according to a source, have also inked former Alouettes co-offensive co-ordinator Ryan Dinwiddie to be their quarterbacks coach. It’s expected Dave Dickenson will continue to call the plays, but Dinwiddie gives him a solid right hand man.

The B.C. Lions, meanwhile, still need an offensive co-ordinator thanks to last week’s retirement of George Cortez.

The Hamilton Tiger-Cats, who according to TSN’s Farhan Lalji denied Edmonton’s request to speak to defensive co-ordinator Orlondo Steinauer for its head coaching vacancy, look like they’ll be the only team to not undergo significant coaching changes.

LATE HIT

The CFL is conducting its annual post-season meetings in Las Vegas this week. The GMs met with vice-president of officiating Glen Johnson late Tuesday night about a variety of issues, and the GMs and presidents will get together on Wednesday. The presidents and CEOs will then have their own session on Thursday.

THE INSIDERS

CFL coaches and managers give their anonymous thoughts on what they’re talking about behind closed doors:

I’ve never coached in Edmonton, but I like the way they treat their coaches. They didn’t stand in the way of (Chris) Jones getting big money and a better job. That’s the kind of organization we all want to work for. These teams that hold their people back, it’s going to bite them in the ass. This is a small league, and we talk as coaches. There are two teams that are the worst about blocking their coaches from other opportunities. Not going to name them, but we know who they are ... If Ottawa loses (Jason) Maas to Edmonton, and if (Henry) Burris doesn’t stay healthy, they could be next year’s Saskatchewan crash. When I look over in the other division, I see Toronto as the team to beat next year. New owners and (Rich) Stubler will make them a lot better ... Don’t know why people think Edmonton deserves some kind of compensation for (Chris) Jones. It’s a promotion. It happens all the time in the coaching profession ... The RedBlacks won’t be in too much trouble if (Jason) Maas bolts for the Eskimos. They have a veteran quarterback, which makes a big difference ... I’m not buying that Orlondo Steinauer doesn’t want the Edmonton job. Something fishy is going on. We’ll find out in Vegas what it is ... How did (the Bombers) convince (Mike) O’Shea to hire his potential mid-season replacement? ... There could be another Hufnagel in Canada soon. (John’s son) Cole Hufnagel, who has done college and pro scouting in the NFL, is talking to numerous clubs about possible personnel openings ... What Chris Jones got paid is none of your guys business. We don’t get a pension, and this league is a hundred years old. So we shouldn’t be forced to stay anywhere, if we can get a better position and a better title. I love coaching, but I’m scared of what’s going to happen to me and my wife in 20 years. We live paycheck to paycheck, but we have no retirement plan. I have three kids to send to university in a few years ... It looks like (Jason) Maas is the front runner for the Edmonton job, but without having a full staff under his belt things could be tough ... Now that (Chris) Jones is gone, the Eskimos are more screwed than they think ... If I wasn’t coaching, I would want to be sitting in the stands when Saskatchewan plays in Edmonton next year. That’s going to be like a playoff game. (Chris) Jones and all of his staff to Saskatchewan. They’ll take some players, too. I’ve coached in the Edmonton-Saskatchewan rivalry games before, but the hate is now going to whole different level ... Not surprised Craig Dickenson chose to go to Saskatchewan over working with his brother. There’s always a ton of factors that go into it, like work load, timeline and taking (Mark) Kilam’s spot away ... There aren’t a lot of (potential) free agents wanting to sign right now. This year’s crop of guys are still hoping to hit the lottery, but it will be a shocker because no one will be free spending like teams did last February. And in order to add new free agents teams will be cutting guys – even ones just signed a year ago ... With (Paul) LaPolice, (Jarious) Jackson and (Ryan) Dinwiddie off the board, Wally (Buono) may need to look to veteran CFL coaches like (Jacques) Chapdelaine or (Doug) Berry as OC candidates ... Khari (Jones) should be the next offensive co-ordinator in B.C. ... They’re offering Trevor Harris under $200,000 if he ends up as the Argos backup, and he would get a good, but not great, salary if he’s the full-time guy. They could get him back on a one-year deal ... Teams are all over (Stampeders special teams co-ordinator Mark) Kilam. He’s being highly recruited and could be considered for a secondary title in order to swing him away from Calgary ... Nobody asked me, but it’s a bad error by the Eskimos to have allowed all their assistant coaches to time out at the same time ... The Ricky Ray signing is a good move by the Argos as long as they keep (Trevor) Harris, too ... (Paul) LaPolice should help Winnipeg, but he needs better receivers ... Wally Buono’s inability to connect with this generation of players will make this a very interesting off-season in B.C. He’s disconnected, and vets tell the new guys to watch their (butts) and that they’re all just replaceable parts ... (Mike) Benevides could be in the running to join the Argos or the Eskimos ... I like Calgary’s move to get (Ryan) Dinwiddie. He’s an excellent young addition ... Lots of things need to fall into place besides a new offensive co-ordinator for Winnipeg’s offence to improve ... Who’s better and worse since Grey Cup Sunday? Saskatchewan is better. Edmonton and Ottawa, if (Jason) Maas leaves, are worse. B.C. is trending the wrong way ... Shawn Lemon is getting looks from Seattle and Denver, among others ... (Special teams co-ordinator) Don Yanowsky is unlikely to return to Ottawa.

kirk.penton@sunmedia.ca

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