B.C. Lions holding its teaching employees, hoping "continuity permits us to evolve"

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They’ll all be again.

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The B.C. Lions’ whole teaching employees from this previous season is returning subsequent 12 months, in line with Lions co-general supervisor/head coach Rick Campbell in a Monday morning information launch from the membership. Probably the most notable change is that defensive coordinator Ryan Phillips has added assistant head coach duties to his portfolio.

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“It’s a giant step in our technique of preparing for 2024,” Campbell defined of retaining the employees. “This can be a group of nice lecturers and high quality individuals. The continuity permits us to evolve and develop as a crew and to be ready for the thrilling season forward.”

The Lions completed 12-6 final season and superior to the West Division closing, the place they misplaced to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. They have been additionally 12-6 and misplaced to the Blue Bombers within the West finale within the 2022 CFL marketing campaign.

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B.C. is internet hosting the Gray Cup subsequent season.

Campbell is 29-21-0 in his three campaigns on the helm and heads into subsequent season three wins shy of Dave Ritchie for sixth spot on the franchise’s all-time checklist and 4 behind Mike Benevides for fifth spot.

Benevides, because it occurs, will probably be again subsequent 12 months on Campbell’s employees as particular groups coordinator after rejoining the Lions final Could. He had been head coach of the B.C. Place crew from 2012-14. The Lions led the CFL with 4 blocked kicks final season and allowed solely seven large play returns, tied with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats for the fewest within the league. As properly, kicker Sean Whyte was a CFL All-Star and Western nominee for Most Excellent Particular Groups Participant.

Phillips was a defensive again for the Lions from 2005-16 earlier than ending his CFL profession with the Montreal Alouettes. He’s the present teaching employees’s longest-serving member, set to return for a fifth season total and a 3rd as defensive coordinator. The Lions’ 22-0 win over the Edmonton Elks on June 17 and their 27-0 overcome the Elks on July 29 made them the primary crew to report two shutouts in the identical season for the reason that Calgary Stampeders pulled that off in 1970. Phillips’ crew final season completed second within the CFL in internet offence allowed (328.8 per recreation) and sacks (55), fourth in factors allowed (439), and seventh in takeaways (32).

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Jordan Maksymic is again as offensive coordinator for a fourth season. B.C. led the CFL final season in passing yards (315.1 per recreation) whereas coming in third in factors (27.5 per recreation) and internet offence (371.2 per recreation). Vernon Adams, Jr., who was named beginning quarterback final January when Nathan Rourke signed on with the NFL’s Jacksonville Jaguars, led the CFL in passing yards (4,769) and got here in second with passing touchdowns (31).

Together with Phillip, Maksymic and Benevides, the Lions are bringing again line of defense coach John Bowman, linebackers coach Travis Brown, assistant defensive backs coach Tanya Henderson, receivers coach Jason Tucker, offensive line coach Kelly Bates, operating backs coach Trysten Dyce, and particular groups assistant/video coordinator Derek Oswalt.

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Henderson returns for a 3rd 12 months. She had beforehand been listed as a defensive assistant. She made CFL historical past in 2022 when she grew to become the league’s first full-time feminine coach.

Subsequent up for the Lions is making an attempt to re-sign gamers forward of free company opening on Feb. 13. Defensive lineman Mathieu Betts, who was named the CFL’s Most Excellent Defensive Participant after main the league in sacks (18), leads the checklist of pending free brokers. Receivers Keon Hatcher (1,226) and Alexander Hollins (1,173), who have been second and fourth, respectively, in reception yardage within the CFL final season, are additionally at present slated to hit the open market.

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