The Winnipeg Blue Bombers have finally got around to confirming what had been widely anticipated since Paul LaPolice was hired in Ottawa last month.
Buck Pierce will succeed “LaPo” as the team’s offensive coordinator, in addition to remaining the team’s quarterbacks coach.
The former Blue Bombers and BC Lions quarterback – originally hired by Mike O’Shea in 2014 as Winnipeg’s running backs coach – is going into his seventh season as a member of the Bombers coaching staff. Pierce took over as the Bombers quarterbacks coach going into the 2016 season.
The newly-minted offensive coordinator told 680 CJOB staying in his adopted home of Winnipeg was a no-brainer.
“I think when people talk about Winnipeg… you hear about the community, you hear about the fan base, you hear about just what a small-city feel it is,” said Pierce.
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“I think that’s what really drew me here. My wife is from here, my two kids were born here.
“Having that community feel in a business where change happens almost yearly – to be able to have a place that I call home. I’ve really fostered a lot of friendships here. It’s a great place to live.”
Not to mention a team that is the reigning Grey Cup champ.
Pierce attributes the team’s on-field success to the culture built over a number of years by the team’s upper management.
“The culture that we’ve created and the standard that we’re about is a direct reflection of the leadership,” he said.
“I think it’s important to continue to build off of that, and once you have a good foundation, everything will continue to fall in place.”
In addition to the promotion of Pierce, the Blue Bombers have also made two other changes to their offensive coaching staff.
Former running backs coach Kevin Burgoin will go into his fourth season with the Blue and Gold as the receivers coach, a duty also handled by LaPolice in 2019.
Three-time Grey Cup Champion Pete Costanza also joins the Winnipeg staff as the running backs coach after 12 seasons as the Calgary Stampeders’ receivers coach.