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The search for an offensive co-ordinator is over for the Saskatchewan Roughriders.
Saskatchewan announced Monday evening that Kelly Jeffrey would take over the role in 2023.
“Kelly Jeffrey is an outstanding coach and a man of high character and integrity,” Head Coach Craig Dickenson said in a news release. “We are thrilled that he has accepted the offensive co-ordinator job and look forward to an outstanding year with him leading the offence in 2023.”
The Roughriders fired offensive co-ordinator Jason Maas after the 2022 season. They reportedly reached out to a number of potential candidates during the hiring process.
Jeffrey was the team’s running backs coach in 2022. The Riders’ rushing attack amassed 1,737 yards this past season, good for fifth in the league despite starter Jamal Morrow (hand) and main backup Frankie Hickson (wrist) missing time.
Prior to joining the Riders in 2022, Jeffrey was expected to be the quarterbacks coach for the Edmonton football team in 2020, but the season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Jeffrey was let go when Jaime Elizondo took over as head coach after Scott Milanovich left for an NFL opportunity.
Jeffrey was the special teams co-ordinator with the Toronto Argonauts in 2016.
Prior to joining the CFL coaching ranks, he spent 10 years at Mount Allison University — two of them as offensive co-ordinator and quarterbacks coach while eight of those were as the Mounties’ head coach.
Jeffrey was named the AUS coach of the year three times (2010, 2013-14) and the 2014 CIS coach of the year.
Jeffrey’s coaching career began in 1994 as a receivers coach with Dickenson State University.
Riders bring back Dabire for 2023 season
Charbel Dabire will wear green and white for another year.
The 25-year-old Canadian defensive tackle has signed a one-year contract extension with the Riders.
Dabire suited up for 15 games in 2022 and recorded 10 tackles, one tackle for a loss and two quarterback sacks.
Dabire was selected by the Riders in the fifth round (44th overall) of the 2019 CFL draft. Since then, he has appeared in 37 games and three playoff games for Saskatchewan.
He has registered 24 tackles and four sacks in his career.
Dabire spent three seasons at Wagner College in New York. In 33 games played for the Seahawks, he recorded 73 tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss, one forced fumble and two sacks, and returned a blocked kick for a touchdown.
