Jeremy O’Day didn’t have to look far to find a new head coach for the Saskatchewan Roughriders.
The Riders introduced special teams co-ordinator Craig Dickenson as the new head coach of the team during a press conference Friday afternoon.
“The reality is, you don’t get opportunities like this every day,” Dickenson said.
“I love the game and I love coaching. This job, in a lot of ways, found me, but I chose to be a member of the Saskatchewan Roughriders and the stars seemed to align on this one.”
O’Day, the club’s new GM and vice-president of football operations, announced the promotion of Dickenson.
He replaces Chris Jones, who resigned as Saskatchewan’s head coach/GM to join the NFL’s Cleveland Browns earlier this month.
Dickenson, 47, is a veteran CFL coach, having spent time with Calgary (twice), Montreal, Saskatchewan (twice), Winnipeg and Edmonton.
This will be Dickenson’s first CFL head-coaching opportunity.
“Having a legacy is important to me as well. I want to do great things in my life personally and professionally,” Dickenson said.
“I think this is an opportunity to do so.”
His brother, Dave, is the head coach with the Grey Cup-champion Calgary Stampeders.