Bomber Coaching Changes

[bwiser]

Jordan Younger is the new defensive coordinator and Richie Hall will remain as a consultant. I guess Hall is easing his workload and is helping in the transition. Mike Miller is the new special teams coordinator. The greatest special teams player of all time will get the opportunity to be the best special teams coordinator of all time.

[Sir Blue and Gold]

BLUE BOMBERS ANNOUNCE COACHING STAFF CHANGES

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers today announce the club has named Jordan Younger as Defensive Coordinator and Mike Miller as Special Teams Coordinator, the latter replacing Paul Boudreau whose contract was not renewed by the club. Richie Hall remains on the defensive coaching staff.

Younger returns to the Blue Bombers for a sixth season in 2024 and his first as the Defensive Coordinator after previously serving as the Defensive Backs Coach. Winnipeg?s secondary has been a force under Younger?s watch, ranking first in passing yardage allowed per game (229.4 yards) and opponent completion percentage against (59.7) in 2023.

Over the last three seasons, the Blue Bombers have finished first or tied for first in passing yards allowed per game, allowing just 216.4 in 2021, tying with the B.C. Lions at 253 in 2022 and then dropping that number to last season?s 229.4. During Younger?s tenure, the Blue Bombers have had two players lead the league in interceptions in Houston (2023) and Winston Rose (2019) while the club has developed Deatrick Nichols, Evan Holm, Houston, Rose, Brandon Alexander, Dee Alford, Taylor Loffler and Marcus Sayles into all-stars.

Younger came to the Blue Bombers in 2018 after working as the defensive backs coach with the Toronto Argonauts (2015-16) and previously with the Ontario Football Conference?s Oakville Titans and the University of Toronto Varsity Blues.

Hall will remain in the organization, working with the defensive staff, and 2024 will mark his ninth season as a member of the Blue Bombers coaching staff.

Hall?s association with the league dates back to the beginnings of his playing career with the Calgary Stampeders in 1983 and then with the Saskatchewan Roughriders from 1988-91. His first coaching job in the CFL was with Saskatchewan in 1994 and he remained on staff there as defensive backs coach (1994-2000) before serving as the defensive coordinator from 2001-08.

He was the head coach in Edmonton from 2009-10 before returning to Saskatchewan as the defensive coordinator from 2011-14. Hall is a five-time Grey Cup champion, winning as a player with Saskatchewan in 1989, as a Riders assistant in 2007 and 2013 and with the Blue Bombers in 2019 and 2021.

?JY (Younger) has been an intelligent, creative and passionate leader for many years, and this transition is something that we had discussed a couple of years back,? said Head Coach Mike O?Shea. ?Having Richie remain with the organization and provide his decades of experience is something we are all very grateful for.?

Miller moves directly from the playing ranks to coaching after spending the 2023 season working with the specialists in a non-playing role. The CFL?s all-time leader in special teams tackles with 226, Miller missed the entire 2023 season after suffering an injury in training camp. An undrafted prospect out of Acadia University, Miller began his playing career in Edmonton in 2011. In his more than six seasons in Alberta, he established himself as a superb contributor on special teams, further building on that reputation after joining the Blue Bombers in 2017. Blue Bombers President and CEO Wade Miller held the record for most special teams tackles with 184 when he retired in 2005, he was first passed by Jason Arakgi (190) in 2016, before Mike Miller became the all-time leader in 2021.

?Making any staff changes is never an easy decision, and we are very appreciative of the years Bou (Boudreau) spent with us,? O?Shea said. ?Mike Miller is a guy who is very well respected across our league, and I think will make a great coach. He is one of, if not the best, special teams player of all-time, and I?m looking forward to seeing him transition into this new role.?

Miller was twice named the Blue Bombers Most Outstanding Special Teams Player (2019, 2021), was the team?s Most Outstanding Canadian in 2019 and was selected as the West Division?s Most Outstanding Special Teams Player in 2019 and 2021. He is a three-time Grey Cup champion, having won with Edmonton in 2015 and with the Blue Bombers in 2019 and 2021.

https://www.bluebombers.com/2024/01/08/blue-bombers-announce-coaching-staff-changes/#:~:text=The%20Winnipeg%20Blue%20Bombers%20today,on%20the%20defensive%20coaching%20staff.

[Blue In BC]

Good moves. I didn't think Miller would return as a player in 2024 and he could become a very good ST coach. Experienced and well liked by his team mates.

Younger begins the transition of being the DC. Obviously Hall is still with the team and participating but now more responsibility is being taken by Younger. 

[horatio montoya]

is there a new contract with former DC Hall or is he serving in some kind of unofficial capacity as this might be important if NE moves on from Belichick and wants to talk to Hall

[blue_or_die]

At STC, we get:

- The GOAT
- A CFLer familiar with the system, the org and the city
- A development/succession/transition plan of a player to a coach
- A changeup in the most underwhelming phase of our game the past few years
- A more ops SMS-friendly situation

At DC, we get:

- Lock-up of our obvious succession plan for Hall's retirement
- A fresh look at defense but from someone very familiar with our current (very successful) system & players
- An example that Winnipeg promotes assistants when they perform well consistently and are loyal
- An iconic, storied, successful former DC in the background making sure everything continues to go as planned going forward, with less workload to keep him focused on the big picture

This is a W

[horatio montoya]

i wouldnt count on Hall being around WPG too long

a lot of the buzz in NE circles is that Belichick is relieved of his duties this week and that Hall is the heir apparent

[Pete]

Looks like we were all right Hall isnt leaving and Younger is taking over as dc.
I really like Miller as special teams, he certainly has instant credibility
I would assume we are not replacing dc coach

[horatio montoya]

it might be too soon to say Hall is not leaving

a lot of Twitter noise in Patriots circles is that Hall is their next HC

kinda ironic hed replace Belichick considering all the praise Beli has thrown his  way in the last 20 years

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

it might be too soon to say Hall is not leaving

a lot of Twitter noise in Patriots circles is that Hall is their next HC

kinda ironic hed replace Belichick considering all the praise Beli has thrown his  way in the last 20 years

This sounds like crazy talk, can't imagine Hall taking on a HC job in the NFL this late in his career, the pressure to succeed in NE would be enormous.

[horatio montoya]

i cant say how likely it is im just sharing the Twitter noise which has always been there for a while but really picked up today and yesterday

[theaardvark]

Well, this keeps Younger from getting poached by someone... should be an easy transition, especially if Hall remains in an active role.

Miller at STC, pretty solid idea.  Having MOS as a mentor, should be another easy transition.

Moving on from Hall was something that eventually had to be done, this prevents us losing Younger in the process.

Well done, Mafia.

[Pete]

Its ironic that many talk of the need for the Bombers to get younger, and we do so...with the coaches!

[Blueforlife]

Sure hope Hall can transfer some knowledge before he goes.  One of the best in biz!

[BlueGold8597]

This sounds like crazy talk, can't imagine Hall taking on a HC job in the NFL this late in his career, the pressure to succeed in NE would be enormous.

This person is obviously a troll

[blue_gold_84]

is there a new contract with former DC Hall or is he serving in some kind of unofficial capacity as this might be important if NE moves on from Belichick and wants to talk to Hall

LOL

Lay off the silly juice.