The Alouettes have found their man

Montreal Alouettes general manager Danny Maciocia has finally found his man and hired Jason Maas as head coach.

The organization made the announcement this Saturday, a few weeks after starting the hiring process.

“I am extremely pleased to be able to hire a coach of Jason’s caliber,” Maciocia said in a statement.

“Having been around him during my career and maintaining close contact over the years, I’m confident that Jason is the right person for us to continue our ascent.”

Maas has extensive experience in the Canadian Football League (CFL). He first played there as a quarterback, from 2000 to 2011. It was during this time that he met Maciocia. The GM was Maas’ offensive coordinator and head coach with the Edmonton Eskimos for a few seasons at the turn of the millennium.

The new man of confidence of the “Als” began his coaching career in 2012, after his second spell as a pivot with the Alberta club. He held various offensive roles with the Toronto Argonauts for two seasons, before becoming offensive coordinator with the Ottawa Redblacks in 2015.

Before the end of that year, Maas was back in Edmonton, where he was hired as a head coach. He held this job for four seasons [2016 à 2019] and maintained a 39-33 record. His teams have never been able to reach a Gray Cup game, failing three times in the section final.

Fired by the Eskimos at the end of the 2019 season, he then joined the Saskatchewan Roughriders as offensive manager. He held this position until last November.

The only external candidate

By choosing Maas, the “Sparrows” GM set his sights on the only candidate who was not part of the Alouettes’ coaching staff in 2022. The organization had been transparent and revealed that five men were in the running for the position that Maciocia has held on an interim basis since the dismissal of Khari Jones at the beginning of last July.

The other four candidates were assistant head coach André Bolduc, special teams coordinator Byron Archambault, defensive coordinator Noel Thorpe and quarterbacks coach Anthony Calvillo. Of these only Thorpe was unable to speak French, which also seems to be the case with Maas.

Not all of these instructors have contracts in their pocket for the 2023 campaign. It will be interesting to see how many of them will be back. Some, including Calvillo, have publicly said they would still like to be employed by the Alouettes, even if they didn’t get the driver’s job.

It’s a safe bet that Archambault will also be back, he who is highly esteemed by Maciocia. The cases of Thorpe and Bolduc are more nebulous. According to the general manager of football operations and player personnel for the Alouettes, Éric Deslauriers, there should be some returns.

“We had something good last year,” he said. So we don’t need to wipe the slate clean. It would be good to keep some stability.

“It will be up to Danny and Jason to identify who will remain to make up our coaching staff in 2023.”

The general manager and new head coach may expand on the matter on Tuesday, during Maas’ introductory press conference.

*****

A good thing settled

The hiring of Jason Maas as head coach of the Alouettes was hailed by many, including general manager of football operations and player personnel Éric Deslauriers.

“I am very happy with this appointment, he expressed on the phone. He is someone who brings experience and his offensive know-how. He multiplied the experiences for several seasons and with several teams. He knows our league very well.

Canadian football is a small world and Deslauriers has already had the opportunity to share the locker room with the newcomer. In 2007, during the former wide receiver’s first season, Maas was traded to the “Als” in September. Mainly used as a third pivot behind Anthony Calvillo and Marcus Brady, the American did not see much of the field in the uniform of the “Sparrows”. Deslauriers, however, has excellent memories of him.

“He was very business, he remembered. He was a true professional who stood out for his seriousness. He wasn’t playing, but he was always ready for his opportunity. He understands what it is to be a pro. He is also a winner, he who lifted the Gray Cup as a player and as a coach.

Go to the next step

The hiring of Maas will also allow members of the Alouettes’ staff, including Deslauriers, to take the next step in terms of building the team.

“For us, the recruiters, it will allow us to know what type of players we can select [au repêchage] or hire as a free agent for the next training camp,” he said.

The arrival of Maas will also allow Maciocia to move forward in some of its important negotiations before the opening of the free agent market.

On the player count at the end of November, quarterback Trevor Harris and wide receiver Eugene Lewis were among those who said they wanted to know the identity of the new driver before entering into contract negotiations. The two athletes could benefit from their autonomy on February 14.

jason maas

Born in Wisconsin on November 19, 1975 (47 years old).

Started his professional career as a quarterback by attending training camp with the Baltimore Ravens (1999). He then made the jump to the CFL, where he played for the Edmonton Eskimos (2000-2005 and 2008-2011), the Hamilton Tiger-Cats (2006-2007) and the Alouettes (2007).

He won the Gray Cup three times, twice as a player (2003 and 2005) and once as the Argonauts wide receivers coach (2012).

Maas made his home in Sherwood Park, Alberta. He is the father of two children.