A look at the Montreal Alouettes coaching staff and the experience that they bring to the franchise.
Head Coach: Jason Maas
This season is Jason Maasβs first season as the Montreal Alouettes head coach. He was previously the Saskatchewan Roughriderβs Offensive Coordinator from 2020 until they decided not to renew his contract following a disappointing season in 2022. He is reunited in Montreal with quarterback Cody Fajardo, the starter in Saskatchewan during Maasβs tenure in the prairies.
This is Maasβs 2nd chance as a CFL head coach. He was Edmontonβs head coach from 2016 to 2019 during which he compiled a 39-33 regular season record during which Edmonton made the playoffs 3 of the 4 seasons. In each of the 3 postseason appearances, Edmonton won a division semi-final game on the road before losing the division final.
Maas started as a
quarterbacks coach in Toronto from 2012-2014. He become the offensive coordinator for Ottawa in 2015 during which Henry Burris was the Most Outstanding Player.Jason Maas had a long professional quarterback prior to coaching lasting over 10 years. Coming out of Oregon he appeared in the NFL with the Baltimore Ravens in the 1999 preseason. Maas played for Edmonton, Hamilton, and Montreal over his CFL career that began in 2000 until he retired ahead of the 2011 season.Β
His best season came in 2004 playing for Edmonton during which he threw for 5,270 yards, 31 touchdowns, and 14 interceptions after being the backup to Ricky Ray in 2003. Maas was the starter after Ricky Ray was with the New York Jets in 2004. In 2005 Ricky Ray returned and despite throwing for over 5 thousand yards Maas was once again a CFL backup in 2005.
Maas threw for 17,
126 yards in his career completing 1,256 of 2,055 passes (%61.1) and throwing 81 touchdowns and 64 interceptions.Assistant Head Coach & Special Teams Coordinator: Byron Archambault
Byron Archambault joined the Alouettes as a Defensive Assistant Coach in 2021 and Director of Player Personnel. Prior to coaching for the Alouettes, he was the Special Teams Coordinator and Linebackerβs Coach for the UniversitΓ© de Montreal Carabins from 2017 to 2019 during which time current Alouettes GM, Danny Maciocia, was the Carabins head coach.
Archambault was a second-round pick for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats (17th) overall in 2015 and participated in the New York Giants mini-camp. He played 2 years for Hamilton. Prior to going pro Byron played 4 years for the Montreal Carabins winning the Vanier Cup in 2014.
I donβt think there is anyone in the world Montreal Alouettes fans would want as their QB coach more than Anthony Calvillo. Anthony Calvillo was a quarterback in the CFL for 20 years, 16 of which were with Montreal. Calvillo is the all-time CFL passing leader in yards, completions, and touchdowns. He threw for 79,816 yards completing %62.4 and throwing 455 touchdowns to 224 interceptions. Calvillo is a 3-time Grey Cup champion, Grey Cup MVP, 10-time CFL East Division All-Star, and 5-time CFL All-Star.
As a coach, Calvillo began with the Montreal Alouettes from 2015-17 working in different roles such as Receivers coach, Offensive Coordinator, and Quarterbacks coach in different seasons. He was the Toronto Argonauts QB coach in 2018.Β
Calvillo worked for the Montreal Carabins starting in 2019 as an Assistant Head Coach and was the Offensive Coordinator and Quarterbacks coach for them in his final year in 2021.Β
He became the Mont
real Alouettes Quarterbacks coach beginning in 2022.Defensive Coordinator & Defensive Back Coach: Noel Thorpe
Noel Thorp has one of the longest coaching resumes of the Alouettesβ coaches. He joined the Alouettes for the third time with the organization in 2022 as the Defensive coordinator and defensive back coach. He was previously the Edmonton Elks Defensive Coordinator in 2020-2021 and with Ottawa prior to that in 2018-2019.
Thorpe worked with eh Alouettes as the Defensive Coordinator from 2013-2017 and was with the Alouettes for the first time from 2002-2007 as the Special Teams Coordinator and Defensive Backs coach. His career began with the UBC Thunderbirds where he was the Defensive Coordinator and Defensive Backs coach from 1996-2000.
Luc Brodeur-Jourdain began his coaching career in 2019-2020 as the Montreal Alouettesβ Athletic Coach. Since 2021 he has served as the Offensive Line Coach.
As a player, Brodeur-Jourdain was drafted by the Alouettes in the sixth round with the last pick of the 2008 CFL draft. He played 1 more year with Laval in 2008 during which he won his third Vanier Cup. He joined the Alouettes in 2009 and played 12 seasons with the Alouettes appearing in 168 games and starting in 127. He was a CFL All-Star in 2012 and CFL East All-Star in 2012 and 2014. He won the Grey Cup with Alβs in 2009 and 2010.Β
Receivers Coach and Pass Game Coordinator: Michael Lionello
Michael Lionello joined the Alouettes as an Offensive Assistant in 2020 and became the Receivers Coach in 2022.Β Previously he worked with Toronto Argonauts in 2019 as the Running Back Coach.
Lionello was with
the BC Lions as a Quality Control Coach in 2016 before becoming the Running Back Coach for 2017 and 2018.ΒPrior to the CFL he worked for Simon Fraser University as Director of Football Operations, Running Back Coach, Recruiting Coordinator, and Video Coordinator.
Running Backs Coach: Tyrell Sutton
Tyrell Sutton is entering his first year as a professional football coach during which he will be the Alouetteβs Runningback coach.
Sutton was signed
as an undrafted free agent in 2009 by the Green Bay Packers. He was claimed on waivers by the Carolina Panthers. Over 2 seasons he appeared in 16 games and rushed for 139 yards on 25 carries averaging 5.6 yards a carry. He also added 132 yards receiving on 18 receptions. He signed with the Seahawks in 2012 but did not make the cut down to 75 players.Sutton went on to play 7 seasons in the CFL the first 5 and a half were with Montreal His best season came in 2015 during which he rushed for 1,059 yards on 180 carries averaging 5.9 yards per attempt and 5 touchdowns. Over his career, he had 4,044 yards and 17 touchdowns rushing in the CFL and added 189 receptions for 1,665 yards and 4 touchdowns. Sutton was a 2015 CFL All-Star.
Linebackers Coach: Greg Quick
Greg Quick became the Defensive Line Coach in 2021. It is his third time being a coach for the Alouettes as he was the Linebackers Coach in 2014 and from 2016-2017.
His coaching caree
r began from 1979 to 1983 at Emporia State where he was at times Defensive Coordinator, Offensive Line Coach, and Defensive Backs Coach. Quick has experience in various roles over his 40+ years as a coach. He also brings 16 years of experience as an NCAA Division 2 and 3 head coach as he had been the head coach of the Chicago Maroons 1989-1993 (D3), St. Norbert Green Knights 1994-1998 (D3), and the Concord Mountain Lions 2003-2008 (D2).Quick entered the CFL as a Linebackers Coach for the Toronto Argonauts from 2010-2011. He was also their Linebackers Coach in Toronto again in 2018.
Defensive Line Coach: Corvey Irving
Corvey Irving is for the first time coaching at the professional level. He has coached U Sports with the Concordia Stingers.
Irving played Defe
nsive Tackle and was a 3rd round pick (93rd overall) in the NFL draft out of Georgia by the Carolina Panthers. He was a player in the NFL from 2009 to 2014 appearing with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Chicago Bears, Dallas Cowboys, and the Detroit Lions. During that span, he appeared in 24 games and had 14 tackles.In 2014 he was signed and released by the Calgary Stampeders on their practice squad. He then signed with Montrealβs practice squad. He played 13 games for Montreal in 2015 during which he had 3 sacks and 11 tackles. He played for Saskatchewan in 2016 during which he had 5 sacks and 27 tackles.
Assistant Defensive Back Coach: Chandler Jones
Chandler Jones began his coaching career at San Jose State where he played in college from 2017 to 2019 as a Defensive Graduate Assistant. This is his first coaching position in professional football.
Jones signed with
the Cleveland Browns in 2014 as an undrafted free agent. He was later on the Indianapolis Colts practice squad and finished the year on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers active roster. He was released following the season. He signed with Montreal in 2015 and spent the season on the practice roster. In 2016 Jones was released early in the season after being on the practice roster.Special Teams Assistant Coach: Dave Jackson
Dave Jackson is new to Montrealβs coaching staff. He has experience in the CFL and has been employed with Edmonton, Saskatchewan, Winnipeg, and Toronto in the past. Most recently he coached in the Canadian Junior Football League with the Regina Thunder. He was the Special Teams Assistant in Toronto in 2019. In 2018 he was the Special Teams Coordinator in Edmonton after being the Special Teams Assistant from 2016 through 2018. He was Saskatchewanβs Assistant Coach in 2015. Worked as a Defensive Assistant for Winnipeg in 2014.
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JohnN
June 9, 2023 at 6:55 pm
Enjoyed the overview, but just a small correction: Ottawa Redblacks did not win the Grey Cup in 2015 with Jason Maas as their OC. They won the next season in β16 with Jaime Elizondo running the offense.
Jonathan Clink
June 9, 2023 at 7:05 pm
Thank you for reading my article. I appreciate the correction I will update that now.