Buck Pierce Named Lions Head Coach

[don corleone]

Fields and Eiben would be two solid additions to the D imo.

[Hambone]

Wonder if Eiben would consider a return "home" which really hasn't been home since he left to attend Bucknell in Lewisburg PA, 6 hour drive from Toronto, back around 1997. The Argos drafted him in 2001 and he's been close to an Argo lifer ever since spending 11 years there as a player and the last 8 as a coach. Sandwiched in between was 1 year playing for Hamilton, 1 year coaching at McMaster and 3 with Toronto Varsity Blues. He's 45 and entering what would be his 25th year playing, working and living in the Toronto area.

Fields on the other hand has been a football vagabond. He's played or worked for 7 CFL clubs; CGY & WPG as a player followed by coaching stints with BC (2015), MTL (2016), HAM (2017-18), EDM (2019), TOR (2022-24). He only has OTT & SSK left to fill out his Kevin Glenn CFL bingo card. He also had coaching stints at SFU (2014), XFL Tampa Bay Vipers (2020) & NAIA Peru State College in Peru NE (2020-21).

[don corleone]

I did not realize Eiben has west coast roots. Lots had to do with personnel but the Argo D played well together. I'm tempted to say the secondary in particular but the linebackers and D line were outstanding as well.

Seems like something going on in TO also with John Murphy m.i.a. and Dinwiddie talking about wanting to be a GM. Now they bring in Monson. Are they fixing things that did not need fixing?

As for the Lions being more physical Buck would know if Rasheed Bailey could help. I don't see him as being expensive given his situation.

[B.C.FAN]

I did not realize Eiben has west coast roots. Lots had to do with personnel but the Argo D played well together. I'm tempted to say the secondary in particular but the linebackers and D line were outstanding as well.

Eiben is from Delta and attended Vancouver College. He credits that high school program for setting up his successful football career.

Bob Marjanovich wrote a nice article on Eiben before the Grey Cup, and listed many of the CFL players who came out of Vancouver College.

https://www.thefreepress.ca/sports/the- ... ch-7650949

[Hambone]

Global interviewed Pierce this morning. During it he cleared up the question about whether the family will be relocating to the west coast. They indeed will. As he said while the wife is from Winnipeg and the kids were born there they are excited about relocating. As his parents still live in northern California he's also looking forward to seeing them more often. No doubt the kids will be looking forward to seeing their paternal grandparents more often too.

[Toppy Vann]

Global interviewed Pierce this morning. During it he cleared up the question about whether the family will be relocating to the west coast. They indeed will. As he said while the wife is from Winnipeg and the kids were born there they are excited about relocating. As his parents still live in northern California he's also looking forward to seeing them more often. No doubt the kids will be looking forward to seeing their paternal grandparents more often too.

This is a CBC story from the day where Buck, Nathan Rourke and Neil had that photo that I was surprised at at first sighting but this one is different and also before a pose for the picture taking:

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british- ... -1.7401517

An earlier story on Buck's thinking from 2023.

'A PLACE YOU WANT TO BE': Bombers' Buck Pierce and Winnipeg a football love story
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Author of the article:Paul Friesen
Published Nov 30, 2023

A few days into his stay, Brown invited him to a small get-together at his home in Lindenwoods. That’s the day Pierce met his future wife, the beginning of a tie to Winnipeg that will last forever.

“They met and literally spent the next four hours just chatting with each other in my kitchen,” Brown recalled. “To say they hit it off and had instant chemistry would be an understatement.”

https://winnipegsun.com/sports/a-place- ... love-story

[cromartie]

Buck does not need a mentor to be a good HC and Mike Benefield would not be on my list. Buck was inspired by Wally's performance standards and worked for years with Mike O'Shea - a superior mentor as he like Buck has the humility necessary to be tough on standards and still respect others and learn and show mutual respect.

I think Mike B is not the same as he was as HC where he was ill prepared for the role unlike Buck

So can you explain to me how someone who spent 11 years coaching under Wally, seven on Special Teams and four on defense isn't a good mentor and wasn't prepared for a Head Coaching role, but Buck who spent zero years being directly mentored as a coach by Wally but was inspired by his "performance standards" is?

Because, to me, career progression looks a lot like what Wally tried to "performance inspire" Mike B into; Defensive Assistant to Special Teams Coordinator to Defensive Coordinator to head Coach. I mean, it's awfully difficult to present a better mentor opportunity than that over the course of a decade.

I mean, Buck has a similar career path, mind you RB coach, QB Coach, OC, Head Coach. But, to me, you can't say MB was left ill prepared by Wally, but Buck was well prepared by Wally when all of that time was in Winnipeg. If you think O'Shea's mentorship is better or sufficient, that's fine, but let's not absolve Wally of the bad things that happened after he retired while heaping phrase on him for the happy present moment.

Any Coordinator who insists on calling plays needs someone who has been there before to help out with the non exciting part of the job and have a voice in strategy. Special Teams coaches understand the art of making chicken salad out of chicken feathers better than people who work exclusively on one side of the ball or the other. Whether that's Mike B (who I do not want coordinating the defense) or not, I'm agnostic. But someone needs to be there to make sure Buck doesn't wander down the Adam Rita path.

[Toppy Vann]

Buck does not need a mentor to be a good HC and Mike Benefield would not be on my list. Buck was inspired by Wally's performance standards and worked for years with Mike O'Shea - a superior mentor as he like Buck has the humility necessary to be tough on standards and still respect others and learn and show mutual respect.

I think Mike B is not the same as he was as HC where he was ill prepared for the role unlike Buck

So can you explain to me how someone who spent 11 years coaching under Wally, seven on Special Teams and four on defense isn't a good mentor and wasn't prepared for a Head Coaching role, but Buck who spent zero years being directly mentored as a coach by Wally but was inspired by his "performance standards" is?

Because, to me, career progression looks a lot like what Wally tried to "performance inspire" Mike B into; Defensive Assistant to Special Teams Coordinator to Defensive Coordinator to head Coach. I mean, it's awfully difficult to present a better mentor opportunity than that over the course of a decade.

I mean, Buck has a similar career path, mind you RB coach, QB Coach, OC, Head Coach. But, to me, you can't say MB was left ill prepared by Wally, but Buck was well prepared by Wally when all of that time was in Winnipeg. If you think O'Shea's mentorship is better or sufficient, that's fine, but let's not absolve Wally of the bad things that happened after he retired while heaping phrase on him for the happy present moment.

Any Coordinator who insists on calling plays needs someone who has been there before to help out with the non exciting part of the job and have a voice in strategy. Special Teams coaches understand the art of making chicken salad out of chicken feathers better than people who work exclusively on one side of the ball or the other. Whether that's Mike B (who I do not want coordinating the defense) or not, I'm agnostic. But someone needs to be there to make sure Buck doesn't wander down the Adam Rita path.

Good question for which there is not just a single right answer - just opinions.


I didn't think MB was ready to be a HC and while he had winning record overall the Lions let him go at the end of the 2014 season.
MB was ST and LB coach yet during the Ritchie era with Dave on the sideline there was never any interaction. If the Lions were in the far end, Bene would be up field further than Wally who was not one to stray far downfield.

Buck sounds ready and is saying the things that I'd expect from a seasoned HC as to what his view of the role and priorities are.

I try to listen carefully to what they say before I decide if it looks like it's heading in the right direction.

I could make a good prediction as to probability of success from that just like I did with Jeff Tedford who had two priorities. TEs and teaching Travis Lulay how to fall.

[don corleone]

In the event Jason Tucker moves on I hope they give consideration to Manny. I think he qualifies with ties to the team and may also have history with Buck. Make the whole team better.

[Clash Dance]

It's been pretty quiet on news in potential co ordinators and assistant coaches. Anyone hearing anything? I'm sure Buck is talking to people, but find it odd nothing yet, while Edmonton has their co ordinators just days after Killam was hired. TO even rumoured to have signed Monsoon.

[Toppy Vann]

It's been pretty quiet on news in potential co ordinators and assistant coaches. Anyone hearing anything? I'm sure Buck is talking to people, but find it odd nothing yet, while Edmonton has their co ordinators just days after Killam was hired. TO even rumoured to have signed Monsoon.

LOL, I keep checking daily also.


I'm assuming Buck is not rushing the process and wants to be sure AND the other complications include giving the remaining Lion coaches a shot AND putting together the full team before any statements.

Having said that the CFL with 9 teams and TSN and 3Down pundits who all know coaches and players and execs so well that it's hard to keep stuff secret. Until someone is not on Zoom and travels it's easy to keep quiet.

Mark probably saw the writing on the wall and started early planning.

Maybe the Lions need to get permission first and in some cases like the Bombers, they will give permision only if it's looking like a sure deal pick.
Who want's an under contract coach (DC, OC, ST) doing other team interviews for similar spots? Likely no one. Also risky to say you might want to leave.

[Hambone]

While things usually leak quite often teams don't formally make coaching staff announcements until the entire group has been hired and in place. While it's strongly rumoured, if not thought to be done deals, that Maksymic and Sherritt will be on Kilam's staff in Edmonton the Elks having not announced anything. While Maksymic is no longer listed on BC's website Sherritt remains listed as being on the Riders staff.

[don corleone]

It's not only the Lions that need to fill out their coordinator positions.

Calgary needs 2, Winnipeg and Ottawa both have openings, Hamilton has not announced Jones as coming back yet, Toronto seems to be in total upheaval with potential for change. Sask is fairly set although the latest Brent Monson rumour has him headed that way.

The only team looking like everything is in place for next year is Montreal and they are going with a new QB.

[Hambone]

It's not only the Lions that need to fill out their coordinator positions.

Calgary needs 2, Winnipeg and Ottawa both have openings, Hamilton has not announced Jones as coming back yet, Toronto seems to be in total upheaval with potential for change. Sask is fairly set although the latest Brent Monson rumour has him headed that way.

The only team looking like everything is in place for next year is Montreal and they are going with a new QB.

As I said quite often nothing comes out for staff announcements until the hirings, firings, promotions and retention are complete. That process often goes into January until it's complete. That's partly due to the nature of the business where there's likely several coaches who are candidates interviewing for vacancies. That often leaves their current team waiting to see how that shakes out before they can address possible needs of their own.

Most figure Dickenson will fill Kilam's vacancy with his brother Craig who is currently listed as a Senior Consultant in their FOPs front office. He has extensive experience as a ST Coordinator. They will need a DC and maybe a couple of position coaches.

There's been no rumblings out of Toronto other than the Monson will supposedly be the new DC replacing the co-DC/position coach roles Eiben and Fields held as a means of replacing the departed Corey Mace. That didn't sound like it functioned as smoothly as the defensive performance would make it seem. Dinwiddie tried to divvy up the play calling by giving one the 1st half and the other the 2nd. Then at times he'd flip flop thru the game depending on who was calling when they had a good series or bad series. If he was wanting to bring in Monson that might suggest he wants to go back to a traditional one-man-in-charge model. Could be lots of change or could be status quo with a new DC being the only significant change with Eiben and Fields returning to their previous roles. Any change in Toronto will likely be driven by other teams plucking a coach or two than the Argos pushing them out the door.

Who knows when it comes to Jones. Ticats haven't announced any changes to staff other than hiring Goveia to replace Hervey. Jones hasn't been rumoured to be interviewing elsewhere. He's worked under Milanovich before and only left the Argos at the time to take the EE HC job. Unless he finds a gig south of the border his only CFL options are a parallel move to one of the existing DC openings. I think he stays with the Ticats with the announcement happening once they have their full staff assembled.

Ironically Winnipeg could be a catalyst for some moves. They've lost their OC. Long-time DC demoted to D-Asst Richie Hall has reportedly been given permission to interview for the DC vacancy in OTT. If Pierce brings a couple Bomber coaches with him the need to fill Bomber vacancies could be what starts a domino effect that ripples thru other staffs.

The offseason coaching carousel is like an exercise in leveling the legs on a 9-legged table that starts to wobble. Saw a little bit off one leg and another needs to be adjusted.

[B.C.FAN]

Ottawa has reportedly hired William Fields away from the Argos as defensive co-ordinator, replacing Barron Miles.

https://ottawasun.com/ottawa-redblacks/ ... rgos-coach