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LaPolice named as Bomber head coach

Moll added as Director of Player Personnel

Paul LaPolice during Saskatchewan Rider practice at Mosaic Stadium in October.

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Paul LaPolice during Saskatchewan Rider practice at Mosaic Stadium in October. (BRYAN SCHLOSSER / CANWEST NEWS SERVICE ARCHIVES)

Greg Marshall at a Bomber practice in 2006.

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Greg Marshall at a Bomber practice in 2006. (JOE BRYKSA / FREE PRESS ARCHIVES)

WINNIPEG - Paul LaPolice is the new head coach of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

LaPolice formally accepted the terms of a deal with the club Thursday morning and will be introduced as the new coach at a press conference on Friday.

Sources with both the Bombers and the Saskatchewan Roughriders, where LaPolice has spent the last three years – the last two as offensive coordinator – have confirmed the news.

Earlier today there were conflicting reports from two media outlets, one claiming LaPolice had been offered the job, the other saying it was going to Hamilton Tiger-Cats defensive coordinator Greg Marshall.

But Marshall, the runner-up to Doug Berry and Mike Kelly previously, was never offered the job with the Bombers.

The Riders apparently attempted to keep LaPolice in Regina by sweetening their offer financially to remain as offensive coordinator under Ken Miller, but he has decided to take the Bomber job.

LaPolice previously served as the Bombers offensive coordinator in 2002-03 and has worked with the Toronto Argonauts twice (2000-01; 2006); Tiger-Cats (2004-05) and Riders. Prior to coming north to Canada, he spent seven years in the US college ranks with Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, the Unviersity of New Hampshire, Western Connecticut State and Maine Maritime Academy.

Meanwhile, the Bombers have also filled their Director of Player Personnel position with the hiring of Ken Moll. He replaces John Murphy, who was fired last month.


 


"We are very pleased to welcome Ken to the Bomber family. He possesses the skill sets and contacts to develop a systematic network which will meet the needs of our Club in the near and long term. His experience and professionalism will be an immediate asset to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, " stated Joe Mack, Vice President and General Manager of Football Operations, in a press release.

Moll has spent the past four years with ESPN.com as one of their NFL insiders and has extensive experience as a scout for the NFL’s Jacksonville Jaguars (1994-1998) and Cleveland Browns (1998-2005).

Before that, he spent 15 years as a collegiate assistant, nine at Richmond and six at Louisville, his alma mater, where he played four years as a linebacker.

The native of Harrison, New York resides in Crestwood, KY with his family.

Ed.tait@freepress.mb.ca

History

Updated on Thursday, February 4, 2010 at 11:34 AM CST:
Adds that LaPolice was confirmed as the new head coach

Updated on Thursday, February 4, 2010 at 2:52 PM CST:
Adds signing of Ken Moll as Director of Player Personnel

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85 Commentscomment icon

Good, the Bombers need a new coach..
Mike Kelly was getting sloppy!

aah Rider Fan...very nice to hear from you again....so let's recapitulate 2009... ok..the Bombers did not win the Grey Cup....and how about that...neither did the Riders bahaaaaahahaha

Mr. Lapolice is coming back because there's nothing like being your own boss. Even though winnipeg is a bit of a thuggish organization, Paul knows the score. If he can do anything in Wpg. he builds his reputation. No one else offered him a head man's job. As for the fans in Wpg. they support the team, not huge crowds, but win or lose there's always 22,000+ at the games. But I agree with previor posters that most of Wpg. football fans are low IQ idiots that love to rant, scream and yell. They bomber websites are also a mess - designed for 7 year olds.

I am definitely happy with the Bomber choice. Let's be honest, anything is better than Kelly and I am okay with a rebuilding year as long as we are upfront about it. And I am sure that LaPolice knows the craziness that transpired with Kelly and will be aware that the fans are a little... sensitive... at the moment.

Welcome back Mr.LaPolice and good luck with our Big Blue...I'll have a helluva time finding anything that rhymes with your name in any 2010 Bomber poetry!!!!!

avatar

bahaaaaaahahahaha....

Starting QB who can lead now...

Hey scrapne. I love the NFL. I never get tired of 95% of the plays that they run right up the middle. How exciting. And the fair catch. Wow, is that ever exciting. Most of all, I love how a team can be up by 3 points with over 3 minutes left but with timeouts and maybe a first down, the game is over. That is so exciting! What an exciting finish!

WHY WOULD AN?YONE ACCEPT THIS JOB? The fans in Winerpeg are brutal. Why would you (Paul ) want to come back here? The fans here do not deserve a quality person. They are scum. Please move on to something better, 4 yr own sak.

Come on Winnipeg. Give the guy a chance! Let's learn a lesson from our neighbours to the west. Even when the Riders were not doing too well back a few years ago, their fans still filled the stadium. They cheered the good plays and laughed off the not so good. You gotta love those fans. I'll always be a true Blue Bomber fan. Call me an optimist if you like because I believe 'We shall overcome one day!'

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