The B.C. Lions are on the verge of hiring their next head coach, who comes with impressive credentials and familiarity with boss Wally Buono.

Jeff Tedford, a former Canadian Football League assistant under Buono's Calgary Stampeders in the early-1990s, was in Vancouver this week and toured the Lions facility. The 53-year-old was most recently the offensive coordinator of the National Football League's Tampa Bay Buccaneers before resigning earlier this month because of health concerns.



Tedford had dinner with Lions defensive coordinator Mark Washington Sunday night and was scheduled to meet with Lions president Dennis Skulsky on Tuesday. Sources said Tedford was in line to be the highest paid head coach in the CFL, commanding a salary of $500,000 or more to return to the league after 20-plus years in the U.S. ranks, should he agree to terms.



Tedford, who spent six years playing quarterback for four CFL franchises in the 1980s, could still have coaching options in the U.S. He resurrected the University of California-Berkely program last decade, developing players such as Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch, and wide receiver DeSean Jackson of Washington.



In fact, since leaving the CFL in 1991, Tedford has worked with six collegiate quarterbacks who went on to becomes first-round draft picks in the NFL: Rodgers, Trent Dilfer, David Carr, Akili Smith, Joey Harrington and Kyle Boller. He is known as brilliant offensive coach who, until recently, was unattainable to CFL suitors based on the salary he could command in the NCAA or NFL ranks.



But earlier this season, Tedford took leave of the Buccaneers for a heart procedure and parted ways with the club on Dec. 5. Several sources said that the health scare, years of earning top dollar at California, and the desire for a slower-paced coaching life made him available to Buono's Lions.



Buono, B.C.'s general manager and vice-president of football operations, employed Tedford and Stampeders general manager/head coach John Hufnagel as offensive assistants early in his Calgary coaching tenure. Tedford's wife Donna is from Alberta.



Tedford emerged as the leading candidate to replace deposed head coach Mike Benevides last week, when he agreed to meet with Buono. If negotiations go well, he could be introduced as the next head coach later this week, however, it is still possible that U.S. options remain.



Buono said that he was looking for "fresh" ideas in his next head coach, particularly a coach who could liven up a drab offence. Tedford also has history with former Saskatchewan Roughriders offensive coordinator George Cortez, who was recently dismissed. Cortez served as Tedford's offensive coordinator at Cal.