All aboard LaPolice’s bus

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This article was published 18/03/2010 (5995 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Richard HARRIS says he feels like the only kid in school not moving on to the next grade.

"There must be something wrong with me. I keep getting held back," Harris said with a laugh.

Harris is back with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers as defensive line coach but is the only holdover from last year’s staff as new head coach Paul LaPolice has brought in his own men.

"I consider myself lucky in that we’re on our third coaching change and all three head coaches have thought enough of me to keep me around or have me back."

LaPolice introduced his staff to the Winnipeg media on Wednesday, including the announcement of Chris Wiesehan as his receivers coach.

Wiesehan spent the last two seasons with UCLA as tight ends coach and has also worked with at Syracuse as well as the NFL’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Offensive co-ordinator Jamie Barresi, defensive co-ordinator Kavis Reed, offensive line coach Pat DelMonaco, linebacker coach Casey Creehan and special teams co-ordinator Kyle Walters were also in attendance Wednesday.

"I read a book called From Good to Great and it talks about filling the bus with good people and then deciding on the route for your journey," said LaPolice. "It takes some sacrifice to win a championship and we have hired people that believe in team. They don’t believe in ‘this is my role and this is your role,’ but in doing what it takes to reach our goal and that’s winning a championship. The course is to win a championship and we need the right people to do that and I think we have done that."

LaPolice was also asked about former B.C. Lions quarterback Buck Pierce and if he had any interest in signing him.

"At this point, there’s a concern out there about him ever playing football again. The trainers in B.C. have spoken to him about not playing again," said LaPolice. "It’s one thing when it’s a shoulder or a knee but when you are talking a head injury and concussions, you have to worry about the future of the player after football."

Here’s a quick look at the Bombers coaching staff for 2010:

HEAD COACH

Paul LaPolice

A career coach with 10 years under his belt, including the last three with the Saskatchewan Roughriders, where he won a Grey Cup in 2007. LaPolice is an offensive coach with previous stints in Winnipeg, Hamilton and Toronto. The rookie head coach will oversee the entire operation but spend most of his time working on the offence and will call the plays.

 

OFFENSIVE CO-ORDINATOR

Jamie Barresi

Barresi has spent seven years in the CFL as a coach, the last two with the Roughriders. Last season he worked as quarterback coach in Saskatchewan and is credited with playing a major role in the development of Riders QB Darian Durant. As an offensive assistant in the CFL, Barresi has worked with stars such as Geroy Simon, Danny McManus, Joe Smith and Jason Clermont. Barresi will work from the booth during games, passing information to both the quarterback and LaPolice. Barresi worked under Joe Paterno at Penn State.

OFFENSIVE LINE COACH

Pat DelMonaco

DelMonaco comes to the Bombers from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, where he was offensive co-ordinator for the past two seasons. DelMonaco joined the RPI staff in 2003 as offensive line coach. He has also worked at the University of Illinois and Hudson Valley Community College after finishing his playing career as an offensive lineman at the University of Albany.

 

RECEIVERS COACH

Chris Wiesehan

Wiesehan spent the last two seasons at UCLA as tight ends coach and has also worked at Syracuse, Notre Dame and Purdue as well as the NFL’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

 

DEFENSIVE CO-ORDINATOR

Kavis Reed

Reed was an all-star in the CFL as a defensive back with the Edmonton Eskimos before moving into coaching. The last two seasons he worked with the Saskatchewan Roughriders and prior to that held down co-ordinator positions with the Toronto Argos and Hamilton Tiger-Cats.

 

DEFENSIVE LINE COACH

Richard Harris

Harris is entering his fifth season with the Bombers and brings a wealth of experience. A first-round pick of the Philadelphia Eagles, Harris played for eight seasons with the Eagles, Chicago Bears and Seattle Seahawks. Harris has also coached in Ottawa and B.C. in the CFL. Known for his ability to relate to players as well as motivate them with an intense approach. Harris is a fan favourite and makes his home in Winnipeg.

 

LINEBACKERS COACH

Casey Creehan

Creehan spent last season as defensive line coach at Eastern Michigan. In five seasons of CFL coaching, Creehan has worked with the Montreal Alouettes and Calgary Stampeders.

 

SPECIAL TEAMS CO-ORDINATOR

Kyle Walters

Walters joins the Bombers after working as head coach of the Guelph Gryphons for the past four years. Walters won a Grey Cup as a safety with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in 1999 during a career that spanned from 1997 to 2003. Walters was a special teams captain with the Tabbies and an assistant special teams coach in 2003 with Hamilton.