LaPolice raids Riders for offensive, defensive lieutenants

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This article was published 12/02/2010 (6077 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

PAUL LaPolice’s name may imply differently, but the head coach of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers isn’t afraid to rob from another in order to improve his football lot in life.

LaPolice likely left all the pens and pencils in his desk when he left the Saskatchewan Roughriders, making room is his briefcase for bigger-ticket items like coaches Jamie Barresi and Kavis Reed.

The Bombers are expected to announce this morning that they’ve hired Barresi as their new offensive co-ordinator and Reed as the new Blue defensive co-ordinator.

Barresi worked under LaPolice with the Riders last season as quarterbacks coach, while Reed was in charge of running backs and special teams.

LaPolice was offensive co-ordinator with the Riders before making the jump to Winnipeg as head coach and it’s expected he’ll play a major role in designing the Bombers’ offence and calling the plays.

Bombers receivers coach Bobby Dyce has been offered a job on LaPolice’s staff, but is also being courted by the Riders.

The Riders have also interviewed former Bombers head coach Doug Berry for a position, but contract and structural details have yet to be worked out.

It’s believed the Riders would like to have a two-headed offensive monster with Berry and Dyce. Berry could be named assistant head coach in order to give Dyce the offensive co-ordinator title.

Berry would handle the quarterbacks and Dyce the rest of the offence. Dyce would be paid as a co-ordinator and have significant input.

LaPolice has also reportedly told defensive line coach Richard Harris he’s welcome back for the 2010 season.

The Bombers still have a number of vacancies on their coaching staff, and depending on how it’s put together are still in the market for an offensive line coach, running backs coach, linebackers coach, secondary coach and special teams co-ordinator.

Barresi came to the CFL in 2004 and spent two seasons as offensive co-ordinator with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats before joining the B.C. Lions as an offensive assistant.

Reed was an all-star defensive back with the Edmonton Eskimos and has held defensive co-ordinator posts with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and Toronto Argonauts.

A former quarterback, Barresi played at the University of Ottawa and has been credited with having a major role in the development of Riders QB Darian Durant.

Winnipeg has a handful of young quarterbacks — Stefan Lefors, Casey Bramlet, Ricky Santos and Adam DiMichele — on its roster and is also expected to make a free-agent offer to Riders backup Steven Jyles on Monday.

gary.lawless@freepress.mb.ca