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Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION
Ticats tie can to their coach
Bellefeuille sacked after 8-10 season
PAUL CHIASSON / THE CANADIAN PRESS Enlarge Image
Hamilton Tiger-Cats head coach Marcel Bellefeuille plans strategy with quarterbacks Kevin Glenn, left, and Quinton Porter during overtime in CFL East Division semifinal football action Sunday, November 13, 2011 in Montreal. The Tiger-Cats coach was fired by the team Wednesday.
HAMILTON, Ont. -- Tiger-Cats coach Marcel Bellefeuille paid the price Wednesday for falling one game short of the Grey Cup.
"We've had three years trying to get to the point where we could have a winning organization, a winning football team, and getting to where we want to be which is in the Grey Cup," Hamilton GM Bob O'Billovich said after firing Bellefeuille.
"Moving forward we feel we have to make this kind of decision in order to do that."
The firing comes less than two weeks after the 8-10 Ticats came up short in the East Division final against Winnipeg.
Bellefeuille guided the Ticats to a third-place finish in the East Division this season. Hamilton upset the Montreal Alouettes in the East semifinal before dropping a 19-3 decision to the Blue Bombers with a berth in the Grey Cup game on the line.
Bellefeuille, who joined the team as an offensive co-ordinator in December 2007, was named head coach in September 2008.
O'Billovich admitted he agonized over the decision, finally coming to a decision with club officials on Wednesday afternoon.
"The obvious (reason) is there as far as we haven't probably progressed as well or done as well as we had hoped as far as a winning record," O'Billovich said. "We were finally able to beat Montreal in their park to get us closer to our goal but we still have some unfinished business. I just think we need some different direction and someone else to take us to the next level."
O'Billovich said he'll draw up a list of coaches he's interested in. He said he'll definitely interview Ticats defensive co-ordinator Corey Chamblin.
At the top of his list of job qualifications is experience in the CFL. He said he has no preference whether a new coach has a strong offensive or defensive background.
"I want to find somebody who has the leadership capabilities and the ability to be a head coach and put together all of the facets of your football team," O'Billovich said.
Bellefeuille was nominated for the CFL coach of the year award after guiding the Ticats to a 9-9 record in 2009, his first full season as head coach. He signed a contract extension with the Tiger-Cats in April 2010. Hamilton again finished at 9-9.
-- The Canadian Press
Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition December 1, 2011 C4
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