https://www.bluebombers.com/2025/12/22/blue-bombers-announce-coaching-changes/
Tommy Condell - OC
Jason Hogan - RB coach
Jake Thomas - DL coach
I'm OK with Thomas and Condell.
Hogan? Not so much.
Quote from: VictorRomano on December 22, 2025, 03:26:29 PMHogan? Not so much.
Bit of a strange move, and kinda comes across as a pity demotion, IMO.
Amazing news all around.
Experienced OC with a successful history with Zach? Check.
Retiring Jake and finally starting Lawson? Check.
Anybody is fine as the RB coach. If he's cool with the demotion, doesn't bother me.
Blue Bombers announce coaching changes
WINNIPEG, MB., Dec 22, 2025 – The Winnipeg Blue Bombers today announce changes to the coaching staff for the 2026 Canadian Football League season. Tommy Condell has been named the Club's new offensive coordinator, and Jake Thomas will be transitioning from his playing career to become the team's defensive line coach, replacing retiring coach Darrell Patterson. Jason Hogan will return in 2026 as the Club's running backs coach, a role he previously held from 2022-2024.
Condell joins the Blue Bombers after spending the last two years as the offensive coordinator with the Ottawa Redblacks and brings 15 years of Canadian Football League coaching experience with five different teams.
Condell began his CFL career with the Blue Bombers in 1997 as the special teams coordinator on Jeff Reinebold's staff and has experience in the league with the Ottawa Renegades (2004-05), Saskatchewan Roughriders (2006), Hamilton Tiger-Cats (2014-15; 2020-23), Toronto Argonauts (2017-18) and Redblacks (2024-25).
He was part of the coaching staff that helped lead the Argos to the 2017 Grey Cup championship and served as the offensive coordinator with the Roughriders in '06, with the Ticats from '13-15 and again in '21-23 and the Argos in '18 before joining the Redblacks in the same capacity in '24.
His coaching resumé also includes stints with Illinois Wesleyan (1995), Albany Firebirds (1996), Hamilton Continentals (1996), McNeese State (1998-99), Stephen F. Austin (2000), Louisiana-Monroe (2001-03), Southeastern Louisiana (2007-09) and Cornell (2010-12).
The Redblacks ranked eighth in offensive points in 2025 as starting quarterback Dru Brown missed nine games and Ottawa started four different quarterbacks. Ottawa finished the year ranked fifth in passing yards per game (269.3) and sixth in rushing (93.6). In 2024, the Redblacks finished second in passing yards per game (303.1) and ninth in rushing (83.7) as Brown threw for a career-best 3,959 yards in his first year as their starter.
During his days in Hamilton, the Tiger-Cats finished first in scoring and second in passing in 2019 and fourth in scoring and passing in 2019. He also worked with Zach Collaros in Hamilton in 2014-15, when he first emerged as a CFL star quarterback.
Thomas steps into a new role as the defensive line coach after a superb 13-year career with the club that saw him play in 223 regular season games and five Grey Cups, serving as a key member of the championship teams in 2019 and 2021.
His 223 career games rank fourth highest in Blue Bombers history after only Bob Cameron (394), Troy Westwood (293) and Chris Walby (249).
Selected by the Blue Bombers in the fourth round, 29th overall, of the 2012 CFL Draft, the Acadia University product transformed into a reliable starter and respected leader who spent hours in the film room and now transitions to coaching after a career in which he posted 33 sacks, 196 tackles, five forced fumbles and one interception.
They say incumbent defensive line coach Darrell Patterson is retiring. Ok. one for one. But what is happening to Andre Bolduc the current RB coach?
Ok. Patterson out as DL coach after retiring. Thomas takes over. Hogan as RB coach, does that mean Bolduc is no longer with the team?
Thomas might make a good coach since his work ethic is very good and I think he's respected by team mates. He understands the strategies used by the team.
I hope he does well in his new role.
Quote from: blue_gold_84 on December 22, 2025, 03:21:07 PMhttps://www.bluebombers.com/2025/12/22/blue-bombers-announce-coaching-changes/
Tommy Condell - OC
Jason Hogan - RB coach
Jake Thomas - DL coach
I am good with the OC and DL coaching changes - not sure Jason Hogan needs to stick around though.
All seems passable for me at this point.
This opens up a spot for Schmekel if he's healthy. He seemed to be improving before injury. Anyone know anything about Tre Laing drafted in 2025 and how he looked in his last year of university? In theory, he might be the Canadian that sits on the PR for a year or when an injury occurs?
Obviously we may draft a new DL higher than last year that isn't going back to university.
Random trivia fact. Jake Thomas was the last active Blue Bomber to have played at Canadinns.
All good news and congrats to Jake and his fantastic longevity he showed in his career, he was nothing but steady for us for a long time. His legacy will continue and I believe some have understated his contributions to this club.
Jackson gone?
says a lot about the organization that a guy takes a demotion and stays with the team.
Love these 3 moves!
I guess Condell is a bit of a question mark. Hasn't exactly been the most successful OC, but he will for sure be an upgrade.
Jake Thomas as our DL coach is great too! We all love Fatboi but on the field he's struggled this last season. Just hasn't had his best season.
With Hogan on the coaching staff, Brady hasn't had a season under 1000 yards! I do think he's an important piece to our offence, but not great as a playcaller and offense installer. If he was cool with taking the demotion, he is very self aware in realizing that OC is not for him, or at least he isn't ready for it. He would for sure be hired somewhere as a RB coach, so I'm glad we have him still.
Quote from: Waffler on December 22, 2025, 04:05:48 PMThey say incumbent defensive line coach Darrell Patterson is retiring. Ok. one for one. But what is happening to Andre Bolduc the current RB coach?
Most position coaches are on one year contracts so no surprise, no word whether Jackson has been renewed yet either. Zach probably got Hogan fired and Brady probably stepped in to help provide him a safe landing. MOS again demonstrates he has a hard time making tough personnel decisions, probably disqualifies him from ever seeking a job as a GM.
Hogan as RB coach after BO20 re-signs means that both are good with the arrangement.
Will be interesting to see how the rest shakes out.
Link to Coaches audio press conference, O'Shea explaining how he came to these decisons.
https://www.bluebombers.com/2025/12/22/coach-oshea-december-22/ (https://www.bluebombers.com/2025/12/22/coach-oshea-december-22/)
Good news all round.
Quote from: Throw Long Bannatyne on December 22, 2025, 07:13:00 PMLink to Coaches audio press conference, O'Shea explaining how he came to these decisons.
https://www.bluebombers.com/2025/12/22/coach-oshea-december-22/ (https://www.bluebombers.com/2025/12/22/coach-oshea-december-22/)
It's really frustrating to hear Mike say all the same things we said when Hogan was hired. Just a dumb move and a wasted season for a veteran team and home Grey Cup.
"We weren't good enough last year for a variety of reasons and we needed to seek someone with more experience," O'Shea told the media on Monday.
"I think the timing (of the promotion last year) was just maybe a little too soon for him"https://3downnation.com/2025/12/22/mike-oshea-jason-hogan-disappointed-in-blue-bombers-demotion-but-still-good-coach/
Quote from: Jesse on December 22, 2025, 07:29:42 PMIt's really frustrating to hear Mike say all the same things we said when Hogan was hired. Just a dumb move and a wasted season for a veteran team and home Grey Cup.
"We weren't good enough last year for a variety of reasons and we needed to seek someone with more experience," O'Shea told the media on Monday.
"I think the timing (of the promotion last year) was just maybe a little too soon for him"
https://3downnation.com/2025/12/22/mike-oshea-jason-hogan-disappointed-in-blue-bombers-demotion-but-still-good-coach/
It's nice that he's owning that and I really hope that he learns from his mistakes.
For the betterment of the teams success, you need to make those hard decisions.
I wish Hogan had been let go but suspect he had a two year deal and this is a Coaches cap issue.
Quote from: LXTSN on December 22, 2025, 07:53:43 PMIt's nice that he's owning that and I really hope that he learns from his mistakes.
For the betterment of the teams success, you need to make those hard decisions.
Just a theory, but I think they intended to hire Jackson as the OC, but his delayed arrival screwed up the entire transition and last minute they handed the ball off to Hogan.
C'mon boys. Position coaches are usually great teachers and know the position they are hired for. Good for Hogan and Fatboi. Hogan can continue to grow. Jake, who can learn the art of coaching. He certainly has the experience to teach young Canadians who may want to play the position.
Now let's get some football players of the future.
Quote from: Jesse on December 22, 2025, 07:29:42 PMIt's really frustrating to hear Mike say all the same things we said when Hogan was hired. Just a dumb move and a wasted season for a veteran team and home Grey Cup.
"We weren't good enough last year for a variety of reasons and we needed to seek someone with more experience," O'Shea told the media on Monday.
"I think the timing (of the promotion last year) was just maybe a little too soon for him"
https://3downnation.com/2025/12/22/mike-oshea-jason-hogan-disappointed-in-blue-bombers-demotion-but-still-good-coach/
very true. things we saw in the first 3 games and no action was taken. notice the rams - a super bowl contender fired their special teams coordinator this week after there were 2 games where special teams were lacking. see a problem - take action. Hogan should never have been hired and he should have been shown the door after the first third of the season and we had many games with entire quarters of no first downs.
MOS waited too long then stuck his head in the sand and it cost us big time.
onward and upward..
Quote from: The Zipp on December 22, 2025, 09:48:47 PMvery true. things we saw in the first 3 games and no action was taken. notice the rams - a super bowl contender fired their special teams coordinator this week after there were 2 games where special teams were lacking. see a problem - take action. Hogan should never have been hired and he should have been shown the door after the first third of the season and we had many games with entire quarters of no first downs.
MOS waited too long then stuck his head in the sand and it cost us big time.
onward and upward..
Very easy to rub his nose in it after the fact. I believe it's a wise choice to give someone a fair shot and it's really easy to point fingers after. A challenging year, a mistake but those happen. We get to retain Hogan who can develop and we get a good new coach. Doesn't always work out.
Quote from: DM83 on December 22, 2025, 08:42:43 PMC'mon boys. Position coaches are usually great teachers and know the position they are hired for. Good for Hogan and Fatboi. Hogan can continue to grow. Jake, who can learn the art of coaching. He certainly has the experience to teach young Canadians who may want to play the position.
Now let's get some football players of the future.
Agree all, great post.
Quote from: Blueforlife on December 22, 2025, 11:10:01 PMVery easy to rub his nose in it after the fact. I believe it's a wise choice to give someone a fair shot and it's really easy to point fingers after. A challenging year, a mistake but those happen. We get to retain Hogan who can develop and we get a good new coach. Doesn't always work out.Agree all, great post.
myself and many others were saying early in the season what MOS said at the end. not rubbing any noses - it wasn't a mystery, it was very evident Hogan wasn't ready and MOS did nothing.
we had it pegged..
Good for Hogan and Thomas. Good change for the O and the D.
The beauty of this is that if the D line struggles, and gets no pressure, people can still blame Jake!
We're assuming Hogan becomes a better coach? Why? Not everybody does. Sometimes you just need to move on from your mistakes.
Quote from: The Zipp on December 23, 2025, 12:17:57 AMmyself and many others were saying early in the season what MOS said at the end. not rubbing any noses - it wasn't a mystery, it was very evident Hogan wasn't ready and MOS did nothing.
we had it pegged..
Really easy to pump your tires after the fact. Firing him early could have made matters worse imo. I rarely agree with early season coaching changes. A difficult and frustrating offense this year with more blame to share than just the OC but he was a big part of it.
Quote from: The Zipp on December 23, 2025, 12:17:57 AMmyself and many others were saying early in the season what MOS said at the end. not rubbing any noses - it wasn't a mystery, it was very evident Hogan wasn't ready and MOS did nothing.
we had it pegged..
Everyone and their brother was screaming when we hired Hogan as OC, I know I was and I was ridculed by the poly anna's on this forum. Have patience, everything will be fine. Ya, for sure Chet. Nno mystery whatsoever, he sucked, as anyone with ZERO OC experience would. you just don't miraculously pickup the offensive schemes on the fly and coach us to a Grey Cup?? Don't trivialize things. We got EXACTLY what we deserved, a swift kick in the nads for such a stupid mistake.
Quote from: Blueforlife on December 23, 2025, 02:04:37 AMReally easy to pump your tires after the fact. Firing him early could have made matters worse imo. I rarely agree with early season coaching changes. A difficult and frustrating offense this year with more blame to share than just the OC but he was a big part of it.
Firing a guy whose only OC experience was as a high school coach and who was clearly in over his head would have made things worse? Not buying that.
Quote from: dd on December 23, 2025, 02:22:30 AMNno mystery whatsoever, he sucked, as anyone with ZERO OC experience would.
Every OC has to have a first season. Every OC will at one point have "zero CFL OC experience". Most will have OC'd at some other level, as Hogan had. Plus we'll assume WFC was grooming Hogan for the job in some capacity, which means they were giving him time up in the booth with Buck or Lapo.
Quote from: markf on December 23, 2025, 01:31:53 AMThe beauty of this is that if the D line struggles, and gets no pressure, people can still blame Jake!
Another post of the week! That darn Fatboi, it'll all be his fault. Winning... uh, Losing
;D ;D ;D
Quote from: RebusRankin on December 23, 2025, 01:35:02 AMWe're assuming Hogan becomes a better coach? Why? Not everybody does. Sometimes you just need to move on from your mistakes.
Are you forgetting Hogan was our RB coach for a long time before his OC year? Brady has spoken highly of Hogan as RB coach in every presser these last 2 months.
Thus Hogan was already a good RB coach. Nothing says he can't get even better as RB coach. PLUS maybe he'll get better as an OC, with more careful grooming, and have another shot at it in 4 years (possibly with another team). Or maybe he'll be a RB coach forever. And that might be just fine.
Quote from: The Zipp on December 22, 2025, 09:48:47 PMvery true. things we saw in the first 3 games and no action was taken
Coaches cap. Period. Whatever we contracted Hogan for (maybe $125k? wild guess) we'd be on the hook for in the cap. We already were up against the cap, so where on earth do we get the cap space to keep paying a fired Hogan AND hire/woo a legit OC
and pay him $250k?
If you want teams to be able to ditch coaches mid-season then you have to get rid of the cap, or the dumb "you must keep paying them" rule.
We anted up, then went all in, and we had to ride that hand to the very end.
Quote from: The Zipp on December 22, 2025, 09:48:47 PMfirst third of the season and we had many games with entire quarters of no first downs.
Ya, but now I can't bet on the opponent to win the 3rd Q and make bank! I think we had only 2-3 games all season (incl ESF) where we won the 3rd Q. In hindsight I should have bet the bookie's max each game!! :P
Quote from: The Zipp on December 22, 2025, 04:52:45 PMsays a lot about the organization that a guy takes a demotion and stays with the team.
Yup. WFC
and Hogan himself. Nice to see a guy who puts team first, and if the team requests you stay, you stay.
Quote from: BBRT on December 22, 2025, 04:13:24 PMI am good with the OC and DL coaching changes - not sure Jason Hogan needs to stick around though.
Nothing changed to make him a bad RB coach just because he wasted a year trying out at OC. He's not a villain or door knob.
Overall this has the feel of positive news. Fatboi to DL and Hogan to RB are great moves.
Condell has never been my fave, and I have gripes, but out of the choices I do see how this is probably ideal. I'll be a lot happier if he keeps the 2021 pubes beard off. :P :o
I also hope they somehow keep Condell from being a '21 Evans slinger OC. They have to push the run-often mantra. Part of why HAM lost the '21 GC is they basically didn't run -- just the token running that slinger-OCs toss in there to say they tried.
I do hope Condell brings some of that '21 HAM max-pro 7,8,9(!) man pass pro. In the reg season no one had an answer for it, including us (they didn't use it in the GC).
MOS is doing the "buck stops here" secrecy thing when he says Brady & Zach had nothing to do with the signing. Brady already spelled out Hogan couldn't be the OC. All of these deals were worked out at the same time, and they are all interconnected. Ya, sure, MOS & KW get the most & final say, but they need to respect Brady when he says he'll walk -- or just let him walk.
So where's the money (cap space) coming from? Condell is a "real" OC. Probably one of the most expensive ones (who aren't already HC's too). Surely he's worth what Lapo made in '17, or Buck in '23.
Call it double (or more) what Hogan made. Where's the space?
Was there still a little bit of buffer left over from Buck leaving?
Or did MOS or KW actually take a haircut in their latest contract to provide the needed space?? I always think those guys are taking big bumps, but what if Mafia got together and laid out what needed to be done to win again?
And MOS in the presser said there's still one puzzle piece possibly to come. And he says Jarious is up in the air (maybe he's the piece?). That means there still has to be (minor) money left in the cap!
Outside of haircuts, I just can't figure it out. Too bad we don't get to see the cap report they send to the league...
Quote from: Tecno on December 23, 2025, 06:24:09 AMMOS is doing the "buck stops here" secrecy thing when he says Brady & Zach had nothing to do with the signing. Brady already spelled out Hogan couldn't be the OC. All of these deals were worked out at the same time, and they are all interconnected. Ya, sure, MOS & KW get the most & final say, but they need to respect Brady when he says he'll walk -- or just let him walk.
The way I heard him say it, he just already knows their opinions and didn't have to actively reach out to them to hear it again. MOS talked about how Zach had spoken about Condell many times over the years and if you remember Walters' interview, you know that MOS and Walters have talked about this is a reset season and changes needed to be made (whether MOS will say that out loud or not).
Quote from: Blueforlife on December 22, 2025, 11:10:01 PMVery easy to rub his nose in it after the fact.
Many questioned the move last December after Pierce departed. Hogan had virtually no experience in such a role and it showed as the 2025 season progressed. One could argue the decision to hire him as OC was a pretty glaring mistake* that cost this team from competing for a championship as the host team.
I don't think pointing out that mistake after the fact is rubbing anyone's nose in it. Hogan's promotion to OC played out as many had predicted. He's a capable coach otherwise and seemingly a FIFO guy if his being retained is any indication.
*
one of at least a few, IMO
Quote from: RebusRankin on December 23, 2025, 02:35:01 AMFiring a guy whose only OC experience was as a high school coach and who was clearly in over his head would have made things worse? Not buying that.
My opinion is that firing a coach early in the season can create more problems than it solves sometimes. If you bring in a new system with the new coach it can be disruptive. I prefer coaching changes to occur in the off season so the organization and team has time to reset.
We will likely have growing pains with our new system and OC. Just par for the course. Our club has been good because of continuity. Patience usually pays off but you will hit bumps as you wait, adjust and grow. Excited we have turned a corner. Happy Hogan remains.
I'm agree with everything techno has stated about this matter.
Quote from: blue_gold_84 on December 23, 2025, 01:24:27 PMMany questioned the move last December after Pierce departed. Hogan had virtually no experience in such a role and it showed as the 2025 season progressed. One could argue the decision to hire him as OC was a pretty glaring mistake* that cost this team from competing for a championship as the host team.
I don't think pointing out that mistake after the fact is rubbing anyone's nose in it. Hogan's promotion to OC played out as many had predicted. He's a capable coach otherwise and seemingly a FIFO guy if his being retained is any indication.
* one of at least a few, IMO
It hurt 100% but its one of the reasons we suffered on offense, not the only one imo
Quote from: Tecno on December 23, 2025, 06:06:30 AMAre you forgetting Hogan was our RB coach for a long time before his OC year? Brady has spoken highly of Hogan as RB coach in every presser these last 2 months.
Thus Hogan was already a good RB coach. Nothing says he can't get even better as RB coach. PLUS maybe he'll get better as an OC, with more careful grooming, and have another shot at it in 4 years (possibly with another team). Or maybe he'll be a RB coach forever. And that might be just fine.
I disagree with the premise that he'll become better and work his way up as a coach. Some guys never do. Reinbold was a very good ST coach, not so much anything else.
Quote from: RebusRankin on December 23, 2025, 02:13:01 PMI disagree with the premise that he'll become better and work his way up as a coach. Some guys never do. Reinbold was a very good ST coach, not so much anything else.
I don't think anyone (aside from one person) has suggested he will.
But he's perfectly fine as an RB coach.
Quote from: Jesse on December 23, 2025, 02:32:39 PMI don't think anyone (aside from one person) has suggested he will.
But he's perfectly fine as an RB coach.
I tend to agree.
As bad as he was at OC he gain valuable experience. This can be a asset next season.
Quote from: RebusRankin on December 22, 2025, 08:09:07 PMI wish Hogan had been let go but suspect he had a two year deal and this is a Coaches cap issue.
I don't think retaining Hogan has anything to do with this, but rather the fact that BO20 is a league leader with Hogan as coach. He just got promoted beyond his level of competence last year.
Quote from: Tecno on December 23, 2025, 06:09:54 AMCoaches cap. Period. Whatever we contracted Hogan for (maybe $125k? wild guess) we'd be on the hook for in the cap. We already were up against the cap, so where on earth do we get the cap space to keep paying a fired Hogan AND hire/woo a legit OC and pay him $250k?
If you want teams to be able to ditch coaches mid-season then you have to get rid of the cap, or the dumb "you must keep paying them" rule.
We anted up, then went all in, and we had to ride that hand to the very end.
Sure, cap plays in. But we had a replacement on the staff, under contract. We could have promoted him, and done this same demotion, week 4. By then, Jackson would be up to speed, having missed camp.
Would Hogan have taken a demotion and pay cut then, or just walked away with the balance of his deal? Would have been a conversation that should have been made.
Who knows, maybe it did.
Sounds like mostly O'Shea's idea to lead Jake into coaching as with Mike Miller.
Quote from: theaardvark on December 23, 2025, 03:56:22 PMSure, cap plays in. But we had a replacement on the staff, under contract. We could have promoted him, and done this same demotion, week 4. By then, Jackson would be up to speed, having missed camp.
Jarious was under contract to be a QB coach. To have him suddenly take the OC job in week 4 we'd almost certainly have to renegotiate his contract and pay him a lot more. Whilst still paying Hogan. Still bad from a coach cap perspective.
There were no good options. Hogan had to produce or we were screwed.
Quote from: Jesse on December 23, 2025, 02:32:39 PMI don't think anyone (aside from one person) has suggested he will.
But he's perfectly fine as an RB coach.
Quote from: RebusRankin on December 23, 2025, 02:13:01 PMI disagree with the premise that he'll become better and work his way up as a coach. Some guys never do. Reinbold was a very good ST coach, not so much anything else.
I said he
may learn more and try OC again in the future. Like many years in the future. Who's to know what will go on in his head and what will happen, but it's certainly possible!
My hunch is he'll be a RB coach (or similar) forever. I watched all his pressers and he just doesn't seem to have the brain power of Lapo or even Buck. I want my OC to be a super genius.
Quote from: Jesse on December 23, 2025, 12:17:57 PMif you remember Walters' interview, you know that MOS and Walters have talked about this is a reset season and changes needed to be made (whether MOS will say that out loud or not).
MOS did use the "reset" word once or twice in his Condell announcement presser. I was actually a bit surprised at that word being used by Mafia at this juncture. It means they are taking this FA a bit more seriously and we should expect more action than the pittance we usually get.
- The Condell thing is exactly what we needed last year. Better late than never to get a bona fide, experienced OC for Zach
- Fine with retaining Hogan as RB coach. The chatter on him improving and eventually getting promoted or not is all inconsequential to me. Also, I think some are underestimating the jump from assistant to managing the entire phase of the team
- Fatboi becoming DL coach is chef's kiss. He's aged out of playing after one of the longest Bomber careers I can even remember. Creates continuity and succession planning for culture/FIFO. Begins the grooming of a 'true blue' potential future coach. Opens the door to finally properly address our DL interior. So many reasons to love this move.
Quote from: blue_or_die on December 25, 2025, 10:25:28 AM- The Condell thing is exactly what we needed last year. Better late than never to get a bona fide, experienced OC for Zach
- Fine with retaining Hogan as RB coach. The chatter on him improving and eventually getting promoted or not is all inconsequential to me. Also, I think some are underestimating the jump from assistant to managing the entire phase of the team
- Fatboi becoming DL coach is chef's kiss. He's aged out of playing after one of the longest Bomber careers I can even remember. Creates continuity and succession planning for culture/FIFO. Begins the grooming of a 'true blue' potential future coach. Opens the door to finally properly address our DL interior. So many reasons to love this move.
Thomas might do well as a DL coach. He knows all the players in the league and has watched 1,000's of hours of game film and watched defences change over the past decade.
Quote from: Blue In BC on December 25, 2025, 01:26:09 PMThomas might do well as a DL coach. He knows all the players in the league and has watched 1,000's of hours of game film and watched defences change over the past decade.
It's the perfect complement to MOS's insistence on keeping ageing vets to bring the newer guys up to speed. He has his favorites, usually the smartest guys in the unit, and the ones other players like, and he keeps them past their best before date. He's spelled this out in pressers (well, sans the "best before" bit I added).
What's new is when it's finally no longer tenable to field the guy as a player, turn him into a unit coach. That way you keep benefiting from the experience and leadership. A la Mike Miller -- which has worked out great.
One could argue we should have done that with AH, but he may have been insisting on playing longer.
Jake was not the most physically gifted player but managed to last 13 years in the CFL. Chances are he has some pretty good knowledge and insight that will make him a good coach.
Quote from: RebusRankin on December 26, 2025, 01:53:17 PMJake was not the most physically gifted player but managed to last 13 years in the CFL. Chances are he has some pretty good knowledge and insight that will make him a good coach.
Rudy syndrome.
Wade Miller
Sam Hurl
Jake Thomas
Players that got the opportunity through passport, and made a career through effort.
Quote from: Tecno on December 24, 2025, 02:53:32 AMJarious was under contract to be a QB coach. To have him suddenly take the OC job in week 4 we'd almost certainly have to renegotiate his contract and pay him a lot more. Whilst still paying Hogan. Still bad from a coach cap perspective.
There were no good options. Hogan had to produce or we were screwed.
Well they let Buck walk out the door with Kevin Bourgoin on a leash, if O'Shea had offered him the OC job he likely doesn't follow Buck to BC. Just guessing, but I would say he was better equipped for the step up than Hogan.
Quote from: Throw Long Bannatyne on December 26, 2025, 04:33:43 PMWell they let Buck walk out the door with Kevin Bourgoin on a leash, if O'Shea had offered him the OC job he likely doesn't follow Buck to BC. Just guessing, but I would say he was better equipped for the step up than Hogan.
But that scenario doesn't make sense. That would imply that MOS
preferred Hogan as the next OC?! Unless Bourgoin was dead set on following Buck regardless of what was offered. Or... Bourgoin
was asked and wanted way more than Hogan and the coach cap wouldn't allow it.
Quote from: Tecno on December 27, 2025, 08:29:57 AMBut that scenario doesn't make sense. That would imply that MOS preferred Hogan as the next OC?! Unless Bourgoin was dead set on following Buck regardless of what was offered. Or... Bourgoin was asked and wanted way more than Hogan and the coach cap wouldn't allow it.
Bourgoin was always the one who made sense to me as an internal hire, which we've come to expect from MOS. So, whatever the reason (we'll never know), perhaps he was the initial choice but he chose to go with Buck instead.
Quote from: Jesse on December 27, 2025, 01:41:56 PMBourgoin was always the one who made sense to me as an internal hire, which we've come to expect from MOS. So, whatever the reason (we'll never know), perhaps he was the initial choice but he chose to go with Buck instead.
I don't think any position coach is going to pass up the opportunity to become a co-ordinator, especially one that has invested years into coaching like Bourgoin, he would instantly double his salary and profile. That said, O'Shea's decision may have come down to personality or work ethic, you're right, we'll never know.
Buck as HC/OC has more money available for an assistant, and who knows if Bourgoin was actually OC in everything but title.
Position coaches interact with the co-ordinators more than the HC, maybe Bourgoin ws fine with Buck, but not as comfortable with MOS, who he would have answered directly to now as OC.
Too many variables...
Quote from: theaardvark on December 27, 2025, 05:43:56 PMBuck as HC/OC has more money available for an assistant, and who knows if Bourgoin was actually OC in everything but title.
Position coaches interact with the co-ordinators more than the HC, maybe Bourgoin ws fine with Buck, but not as comfortable with MOS, who he would have answered directly to now as OC.
Too many variables...
I've heard a few times, a job as a teacher with benefits pays much better than a position coach in the CFL, thus many would be candidates take high school coaching jobs when they can find them.
Quote from: Throw Long Bannatyne on December 27, 2025, 08:30:55 PMI've heard a few times, a job as a teacher with benefits pays much better than a position coach in the CFL, thus many would be candidates take high school coaching jobs when they can find them.
I believe that. Way more security too.
Jarious Jackson signs with the Stamps as a QB coach.
https://3downnation.com/2026/01/05/calgary-stampeders-hire-jarious-jackson-as-quarterbacks-coach-finalize-staff/ (https://3downnation.com/2026/01/05/calgary-stampeders-hire-jarious-jackson-as-quarterbacks-coach-finalize-staff/)
Wonder why he moved on from us??
Quote from: dd on January 06, 2026, 02:19:19 AMWonder why he moved on from us??
There's no money here. And we didn't want him. He did nothing for us. Huge disappointment.
These moves are fine.
Cordell has to rise up, and be creative.
The other two are position coaches.
Thomas and the other guy can work with Canadians. I doubt Americans will give these guys much respect.
Oh well probably economy related. Great they can continue their careers.
Jake I assumed is well liked, and had paid his dues.
Brady likes Hogan, so they have worked well together. For the most part the RB coach has to make sure the rbs run the hole and make their blocks.
Strev and Shoen to receiver coach?
Quote from: dd on January 06, 2026, 02:19:19 AMWonder why he moved on from us??
He was essentially useless during his time here. I'm guessing the WFC opted to move on.
Quote from: dd on January 06, 2026, 02:19:19 AMWonder why he moved on from us??
Zach probably had some say in this, maybe didn't work well with him and prefers to work with Condell, hard to say whether he helped any of the other QB's improve their game as we saw no evidence. Essentially Jackson was here to help Hogan, just as Richie Hall was kept in place to mentor Younger. Richie has become invisible to the public eye but I guess they'll keep him around as long as he wants to coach.
Quote from: Throw Long Bannatyne on January 05, 2026, 10:54:04 PMJarious Jackson signs with the Stamps as a QB coach.
https://3downnation.com/2026/01/05/calgary-stampeders-hire-jarious-jackson-as-quarterbacks-coach-finalize-staff/ (https://3downnation.com/2026/01/05/calgary-stampeders-hire-jarious-jackson-as-quarterbacks-coach-finalize-staff/)
The JJ thing last year is still super weird to me. Know idea *** happened.
Clearly time to cut bait and move on though.
Zero need for JJ here with Condell.
Might end up with Zach next year as QB coach.
Quote from: markf on December 23, 2025, 01:31:53 AMThe beauty of this is that if the D line struggles, and gets no pressure, people can still blame Jake!
(https://imgs.search.brave.com/SQoOGdkGHYjaAast_wpOrzawmgEl_b4goV1oDac59HQ/rs:fit:860:0:0:0/g:ce/aHR0cHM6Ly90aHVt/YnMuZHJlYW1zdGlt/ZS5jb20vYi9sb2wt/Z29sZC10ZXh0LWJs/YWNrLWJhY2tncm91/bmQtZC1yZW5kZXJl/ZC1yb3lhbHR5LWZy/ZWUtc3RvY2stcGlj/dHVyZS1pbWFnZS1j/YW4tYmUtdXNlZC1v/bmxpbmUtd2Vic2l0/ZS1iYW5uZXItYWQt/ODY0ODg5NTAuanBn)
I noticed that Bolduc is no longer listed as a RB coach. That seemed expected with Hogan moving back to that role.
Quote from: Blue In BC on January 08, 2026, 04:46:58 PMI noticed that Bolduc is no longer listed as a RB coach. That seemed expected with Hogan moving back to that role.
Some of these coaches are totally anonymous, it took me till last season to recognize Darrell Patterson on the sidelines, and he was with the team 5 years.
Quote from: Throw Long Bannatyne on January 08, 2026, 06:00:35 PMSome of these coaches are totally anonymous, it took me till last season to recognize Darrell Patterson on the sidelines, and was with the team 5 years.
And I've never even heard that name before.
Quote from: theaardvark on January 06, 2026, 08:43:37 PMZero need for JJ here with Condell.
Might end up with Zach next year as QB coach.
He can start there and be our OC one day. I've thought that for a while.
Quote from: tlf on January 09, 2026, 10:48:29 PMHe can start there and be our OC one day. I've thought that for a while.
Patterson? Interesting. Expound?
Quote from: blue_gold_84 on December 22, 2025, 03:21:07 PMhttps://www.bluebombers.com/2025/12/22/blue-bombers-announce-coaching-changes/
Tommy Condell - OC
Jason Hogan - RB coach
Jake Thomas - DL coach
Condell taking on the QB coaching dues. I like this move.
Quote from: Pigskin on January 13, 2026, 03:45:09 AMCondell taking on the QB coaching dues. I like this move.
"O'Shea indicated that new offensive coordinator Tommy Condell will also serve as the QB coach in 2026 and that he's got "one or two spots to fill — one, most likely. Not pressed (to fill the role) right now. I just want to make it right."
Looks like Jackson is gonzo.. he didn't seem to be do much for the BB anyways. Hope Condell can handle both duties.
Quote from: BLUEBOMBER on January 16, 2026, 07:53:25 AMLooks like Jackson is gonzo..
He is gonzo. He got hired as QB coach of the Stampeders (https://www.stampeders.com/2026/01/05/stamps-announce-2026-football-operations-staff/) on Jan. 5th.
Hogan is probably a hard working dedicated guy. He seems qualified, for RB coach. Not much to coach guys at the pro level. RBs either have traits that make them good, or they don't. Most teams have. O lines that can do the job, or they don't. We didn't last year.
Coaching the guys we have had and brought in, seem pretty good. Hogan has worked well with the guys we have had. The OC has to coordinate the three groups, and the QBs. We seem to be headed in the right direction. Get Lapo back. He was an awesome OC.
Quote from: DM83 on January 16, 2026, 05:51:44 PMGet Lapo back.
The team doesn't need another OC. It already has this guy (https://www.bluebombers.com/football-operations/tommy-condell/).
Quote from: DM83 on January 16, 2026, 05:51:44 PMHogan is probably a hard working dedicated guy. He seems qualified, for RB coach. Not much to coach guys at the pro level.
Wow, is this the very first post you've made at a computer instead of on a phone? Glad to see the problem is in your thumbs, not your brain! ;) ;) ;) :D :D :D