STAMPEDERS FINALIZE COACHING STAFF
Calgary Stampeders head coach and general manager John Hufnagel is pleased to announce his coaching staff for the 2015 Canadian Football League season.
The list includes eight returnees from the staff that guided the Stamps to the Grey Cup in 2014 as well as one newcomer – defensive backs coach Kahlil Carter.
“Kahlil’s background as a defensive back in the CFL as well as his coaching experience in the U.S. makes him a great addition to our staff,” said Hufnagel. “This in an excellent group of diligent and accomplished coaches and I look forward to working with them as we attempt to defend the Grey Cup title.”
Here is Hufnagel’s staff for 2015:
Dave Dickenson (offensive coordinator/assistant head coach): Dickenson returns for his seventh season on the Stampeders coaching staff and fifth as the team’s offensive coordinator. This is the second year he has also carried the additional title of assistant head coach. In 2014, Dickenson oversaw an offence that led the CFL in points scored, touchdowns, rushing touchdowns, first downs, rushing offence, average gain per pass, fewest interceptions and fewest sacks allowed.
Rich Stubler (defensive coordinator): Stubler enters his 29th season in the CFL and his second with the Stampeders. In his first year with Calgary, the Stamps defence finished in the top three in the CFL in fewest net yards rushing allowed (1,774), average gain per rush (5.1), average points allowed per game (19.3) and fewest touchdowns allowed (30). Stubler has been coaching for more than four decades and is a five-time Grey Cup winner – in 1986 with Hamilton, in 1993 with Edmonton, in 2000 with BC, in 2004 with Toronto and in 2014 with the Stampeders.
Mark Kilam (special teams coordinator): Kilam is entering his 11th season with the Stampeders and his sixth as special teams coordinator. The Stamps’ 2014 special teams saw the emergence of two new returners in Jock Sanders and Sederrik Cunningham and both exceeded 1,000 combined return yards for the season. Punter Rob Maver, who was second in the CFL with a punting average of 45.4 yards and in punts inside the 20 with 38, was named a West Division all-star.
Pete Costanza (receivers coach): Costanza is back for an eighth season as the Stampeders’ receivers coach and has been on the Calgary staff ever since Hufnagel became head coach and GM in 2008. Despite being impacted by numerous injuries to the starters, the Calgary receiving corps had a productive season in 2014 and helped the Stampeders lead the CFL with 511 points. Thirteen different Stampeders had touchdown catches in 2014.
Marc Mueller (running backs coach): Mueller becomes the running backs coach in 2015 after serving as a defensive assistant in 2014 during his first season with the Stampeders. Mueller worked closely with the linebackers and starters Juwan Simpson and Deron Mayo both had solid seasons as they ranked second and third on the team in tackles with 74 and 67, respectively.
Pat DelMonaco (offensive line coach): DelMonaco returns for his second season as the Stamps’ offensive line coach and his sixth overall in the CFL. In 2014, Calgary led the CFL in rushing yards (143.9 yards per game) and fewest sacks allowed (26). The line paved the way for Jon Cornish to win a third consecutive rushing title despite playing just nine games and four different Calgary backs recorded 100-yard rushing games in 2014. Two members of the line – left tackle Stanley Bryant and centre Brett Jones – earned CFL all-star recognition.
DeVone Claybrooks (defensive line coach): Claybrooks, one of three former Stamps players on the Calgary coaching staff along with Hufnagel and Dickenson, is entering his fourth season as defensive line coach. In 2014, defensive end Shawn Lemon – who was the team’s nominee for Most Outstanding Defensive Player – matched a league record in forced fumbles (eight) and finished in a second-place tie in the CFL with 13 sacks.
Brent Monson (linebackers coach): Monson returns to the defensive side of the ball after spending the previous three seasons as running backs coach. It’s his seventh season overall on the Calgary coaching staff. Monson coached the linebackers in 2010 and the defensive line in 2011 before becoming running backs coach in 2012. This past season, the Stamps running game again led the league in several categories including net rushing yards (2,590) and first downs rushing (156).
Kahlil Carter (defensive backs): Carter joins the Stampeders staff after coaching at various levels and leagues including arena football, high school, college and professional. The Washington, D.C., native is making a return to the CFL as he was a defensive back for four seasons for the Toronto Argonauts and Montreal Alouettes.
