Danny Maciocia believes Ottawa general manager Marcel Desjardins can rebound and lead the Redblacks back to success.

“I can not believe there is a better person than him who can manage all that. He did a good job. The team went to the Grey Cup game several times with him,” Maciocia told Martin Comtois of le Droit.

“I think you have to take a step back, be patient. He will make decisions about the staff. He will find a coach who will bring his vision of things. I am confident that Ottawa will be among the top teams in 2020.”

Maciocia is currently the head coach for the University of Montreal Carabins. The Carabins are seto to play the Laval Rouge et Or in the Dunsmore Cup on Saturday. He started his CFL coaching career in Montreal spending five seasons with the Alouettes from 1996-2001.

That final year Maciocia was the offensive coordinator and Desjardins was assistant director of football operations with the Als. When Desjardins was searching for the first head coach in Redblacks franchise history, there was a meeting between the two former colleagues.

“We had talked about the job at the time, but I was not ready to move. We had talked to each other, but I would say it was rather a visit between two good friends,” Maciocia said.

“I consider Marcel a very good person. A good football head. In my opinion, anyone can work with him.”

The 52-year-old was one of six candidates for the top job in Ottawa. With the position now vacant, the discussions could be revisited. He has championship pedigree, winning a Grey Cup as Edmonton’s head coach in 2005 and spent three seasons as the Eskimos general manager.

Maciocia turned down an offer from the Alouettes to become the team’s president in December 2016. Maciocia described the hiring process and what went into his decision to ultimately stay at Montreal for the 2017 season in a Q&A with 3DownNation. Perhaps the right relationship could lure Maciocia back to the CFL.