LaPolice is the new Bombers Head Coach - Ian Hamilton
Posted: Fri Feb 05, 2010 10:05 am
http://www.theprovince.com/sports/Paul+ ... story.htmlPaul LaPolice accepts Winnipeg Blue Bombers head coaching job
By Ian Hamilton, Leader-Post February 5, 2010
REGINA — The Saskatchewan Roughriders' off-season shopping list has grown significantly.
Paul LaPolice, the Roughriders' offensive co-ordinator for the past two CFL seasons, reportedly accepted an offer Thursday to become the Winnipeg Blue Bombers' head coach. An official announcement out of Winnipeg is expected Friday.
As well, defensive end Stevie Baggs — who had 12 sacks for the Roughriders in 2009 to tie for the CFL lead — signed a free-agent deal with the NFL's Arizona Cardinals on Wednesday.
The Roughriders already were in the market for a starting defensive end to replace John Chick (who signed with the NFL's Indianapolis Colts) and offensive line coach Bob Wylie (who joined the Denver Broncos).
No one from the Roughriders' organization was available to comment. LaPolice did not return messages left by the Leader-Post.
According to the Winnipeg Free Press, LaPolice accepted a deal with the Bombers on Thursday morning. The Free Press reported LaPolice will be introduced as Mike Kelly's replacement at a media conference Friday.
In a conversation with the Leader-Post in December, LaPolice said he would listen if the Bombers approached him about becoming a head coach.
"It's something I've always aspired to be ...," he said on Dec. 21. "It's something that's always been in the back of my mind, so if the opportunity presents itself, it's something that I would look at."
LaPolice's wife, Tina, hails from the Manitoba capital and LaPolice was the Bombers' offensive co-ordinator in 2002 and '03. He also has had CFL coaching jobs with the Toronto Argonauts and Hamilton Tiger-Cats.
He also coached in the U.S. college ranks at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, the University of New Hampshire, Western Connecticut State University and the Maine Maritime Academy.
There was some thought LaPolice was a candidate to replace Roughriders head coach Ken Miller next season, when he's slated to give up the team's coaching reins to concentrate on his duties as vice-president of football operations.
Baggs, a 28-year-old product of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., had a breakout season with the Roughriders last season — his first full season in Saskatchewan after previous stops with the Bombers and Edmonton Eskimos. The 6-foot-1, 241-pounder had 55 tackles, four forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and an interception.
Baggs was to become a CFL free agent on Feb. 15, but he was eligible to sign with an NFL team before that — just as players entering the option years of their CFL contracts are eligible to do.
"He's very excited about to play in the National Football League," Baggs' agent, Chad Speck, said from his office in Sweetwater, Tenn. "He's certainly excited to be on that team, which was a playoff team this year and in the Super Bowl last year.
"They lack depth at outside linebacker and they think he's got an opportunity to make that squad. He's excited about the possibility."
Baggs confirmed his deal with Arizona is for one year, but neither Baggs nor Speck, would provide financial details — including whether Baggs received a signing bonus. Speck also declined to divulge financial details, including whether Baggs received a signing bonus.
"We've had some communication with the Cardinals and actually several NFL teams over the last couple of weeks and it's something that I thought was probably getting ready to take place," Speck said. "I knew once they wanted to fly him in for a physical (on Tuesday) it was probably close to being a done deal."
