Mace is one of a kind

It was last season when rookie head coach Corey Mace felt the need to deliver an important message after his Saskatchewan Roughriders had lost a game or two that they should’ve won.

He just had to get into costume first.

“He came in the meeting, dressed up with a big gold chain on, had some R&B music and started dancing in front of the whole team and did this whole routine,” said veteran defensive tackle Micah Johnson with a laugh after Friday’s practice at Princess Auto Stadium.

“For him to do that in that moment, it just calls guys to relax, to just chill out and let guys know that we got this and the sky isn’t falling. That was a big moment for me because I don’t think anybody expected that.”

In 2023, the Riders were a mess under Craig Dickenson and missed the playoffs at 6-12. After hiring Mace in 2024, they got back to playing winning football and went 9-8-1 en route to losing the West Final 38-22 against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

Despite coming up short against their Prairie rival, it was obvious the organization found the right man for the job. This season, they’ve taken the next step by owning the West at 12-6 and making it to Sunday’s Grey Cup in Winnipeg against the Montreal Alouettes.

“After being in the building, it didn’t take long to realize that he’s the man,” said right tackle Jermarcus Hardrick, who signed with the Riders as a free agent in 2024.

“First couple days I was like ‘Wow, I can’t believe this is his first time being a head coach.’ I actually went and said to him ‘This is your first time?’ He’s so easy to follow, he’s the same every day, and he’s a worker.”

Hardrick suited up for the Bombers from 2016-23 and loved his time in Winnipeg. Then the Riders swooped in and made a substantial financial offer. He ultimately felt comfortable signing with the Green and White after talking to Mace — who had just been hired two months earlier.

“It was just the look in his eyes. It was a FaceTime, we stared at each other and I saw it, I saw it in his eyes,” said Hardrick.

“I didn’t know this was going to happen, but I just saw the vision and the type of football he wanted to play. It was right up my alley… Now, here we are.”

Second-year Riders defensive back Antoine Brooks Jr., was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers and played under Mike Tomlin in 2020.

If you’ve ever seen one of Tomlin’s press conferences, you don’t need to be told that he’s intense.

Real intense.

Mace, on the other hand, is calm, cool, and collected according to Brooks.

“Coach Mace doesn’t yell. He’s a very calm dude, so it’s like working with my big brother, but I don’t see him as my big brother cause he’s my head coach. He’s just one of a kind,” said Brooks.

“Honestly, for me, I loved Mike Tomlin, too, but Mike T’s a little aggressive, and Corey Mace is not. When you got a calm coach that’s like ‘Hey, come on man, you know you can do better than that.’ Shoot, you’re gonna go back out there and do way better than that.”

Veteran kicker Brett Lauther referred to Mace as the best coach and person he’s ever been around in his career. The 35-year-old has been the worst kicker in the CFL this season at 72.2 per cent, but his confidence remains high thanks to the treatment he’s received from his boss.

“We’re here for a reason and the main reason is because he became the head coach of the Saskatchewan Roughriders. He’ll never admit that, but everything he does behind the scenes, him playing football before, understanding what we’re going through before, being honest when we need it, pulling back when we need it, he’s the reason why I’m even still playing in this football game,” said Lauther.

“A lot of people, maybe rightfully so, would have given up a lot earlier, and I’ve had a lot longer leash than a lot of other people get, or maybe even I deserve, but that’s the reason why I get a chance to go out Sunday. Maybe, right a lot of wrongs that I had this season.”

The Riders haven’t won a championship since 2013. They’ve only won four in their entire history, which is something Mace, 39, made clear he was determined to change when he was hired.

“Everyone in this room and across the country who follows the sport understands the importance of the Saskatchewan Roughriders and the fan base. That flag flies worldwide, man,” said Mace.

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“It was something that was heavy and on my heart that the team only has four to celebrate. We’re here and we have an opportunity to change that.”

As badly as he wants it for Riderville, his players want it just as badly for him.

“How big would it be? Probably as big as Canada. That’s how I feel,” said Brooks.

“Coach Mace does a lot for us, and a lot for the province.”

taylor.allen@freepress.mb.ca

Taylor Allen
Reporter

Taylor Allen is a sports reporter for the Winnipeg Free Press. Taylor was the Vince Leah intern in the Free Press newsroom twice while earning his joint communications degree/diploma at the University of Winnipeg and Red River College Polytechnic. He signed on full-time in 2019 and mainly covers the Blue Bombers, curling, and basketball. Read more about Taylor.

Every piece of reporting Taylor produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press‘s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press’s history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates.