An emotional Rick Campbell fought back tears, choosing his words carefully as he talked about stepping down as the Ottawa Redblacks head coach at a news conference late Monday morning.
Three days after the Redblacks wrapped up a horrible 3-15 season, Campbell told a huge crowd of media it was a tough day because he was so emotionally attached to the team, the football fans and the city.
“There are some pretty magic moments I won’t forget, I’m going to remember those moments,” said Campbell, who then paused for more than half a minute to gather his composure. “I’d say I’m sorry, but I’m not sorry … I’m sad. Going down Bank St. in the Grey Cup parade, are you kidding me? Literally, through my neighbourhood. That’s good s— right there, pardon my language. I’m going to remember the good stuff, I appreciate it.”
Campbell, who had one year remaining on his contract, was the Redblacks head coach from Day 1, from 2014 right through to this season. The Ottawa Sports and Entertainment Group, owners of the Redblacks, has agreed to pay Campbell for the 2020 season and will allow him to seek employment elsewhere. There is a mitigation clause in his contract in which he will be paid less by the Redblacks if he gets a good job elsewhere — and you can bet there will be opposing teams that are interested.
There is a non-player salary cap in the CFL. Campbell’s 2020 pay will be charged to the team’s cap extended out over a five-year period.
Campbell spoke about being on a different page than GM Marcel Desjardins— both had one year remaining on their contracts — and about how tough it was to see players come and go, some of them guys he wanted to see remain as Redblacks.
“Not to get into all the specifics, but I really didn’t like it when there were people who left here with a bad taste in their mouth — the list was getting a little long,” said Campbell. “You have to treat people well, you have to treat them right, empower them, value them. If you do that, people will go through the wall for you. If you don’t, it can make it tougher.
“I just want to make sure all the people who have left this place feel appreciated and feel valued. It wasn’t a power play or anything like that. It was about everybody pulling in the same direction and making it a fun place to work — for me, that was slipping, but that’s on me.
“I do not dislike Marcel, it’s not about that. Marcel’s got a lot of knowledge, there’s a reason why we won around here. Maybe it’s me that’s changed. If you know Marcel, he’s pretty consistent in how he acts. I would guess as it’s more me changing than him. Sometimes relationships have to jive to be able to communicate. It’s nothing against Marcel, I’ll put it on me too, I have to be a better communicator.”
In a radio interview with TSN 1200 a bit later, Campbell talked about some things that had bothered him, including last week’s words (on TSN 1200 and in a Postmedia interview) from former Redblacks quarterback Henry Burris, who suggested players weren’t being treated right and it was hurting the team when so many of them were released or allowed to leave as free agents.
“That was just another thing,” said Campbell. “The head coach and GM, it has to be two guys that can communicate really well. And Marcel and I are wired kind of differently. I’m not knocking him, that’s just kind of a fact. If anything, Marcel is fair, I don’t have complaints on that front.”
Campbell, who turns 49 on Dec. 20, led the Redblacks to the Grey Cup game (a loss to Edmonton) in just their second season. The following year, in 2016, the Redblacks won the Grey Cup, beating the Calgary Stampeders 39-33 in overtime, the first CFL championship for an Ottawa team since 1976.
“I’ve been thinking about (leaving),” said Campbell. “It was hard to even come to the idea of thinking about it because I’m so ingrained in the community. To give all that up, there had to be some pretty solid reasons. I know I’m being a little vague, but that’s what I would say.”
The Redblacks expected Monday’s scheduled news conference to be himself and Campbell reflecting on 2019 and talking about plans for 2020.
“My full expectation was both Marcel and Rick would be back next year and we’d be able to turn the page on what’s been a difficult 2019 and get back to where we should be at this time of year — preparing for a home playoff game,” said OSEG CEO/president Mark Goudie.
“I found out from Mark before I found out from Rick,” said Desjardins. “The conversation after the fact was that he didn’t think our relationship was good enough for him to want to continue in this arrangement. Obviously, the stress of this season must have played a factor in that.
“I’m as surprised as everybody else by this outcome. My expectation was Rick would be back and we’d work together to try and get this thing straightened out. Today is kind of a strange day, an unexpected day. Rick’s a good guy, he takes everything to heart — he and I are similar in a lot of ways.
“I take complete responsibility for everything, but I also know all of the success we’ve had in the past, it was a group effort. As much as I’m the person to answer for this, there are a lot of things that happened, some of those were under my control. But there are a lot of things that didn’t work out — whether it be on the coaching side or injuries — that’s unfortunate, but at the end of the day, it’s my fault, it’s my responsibility.”
Responding to Burris’ comments that he had rubbed some ex-Redblacks the wrong way, Desjardins told TSN 1200: “When you cut a player, he’s not going to like you. I’m the one that does it, I’m the one that verbalizes it, though the coaches are the ones that make that decision.
“When players leave, I’m the one informing them, I’m the bad guy. People are not going to like that either we don’t want them or we can’t afford to pay them. I get it why (some players) are upset, they’re not getting what they want. I know I’m not Mr. Personality. But I’m consistent, I can live with myself. I promise you we’ll have players and coaches from other teams coming in and they’re going to love Ottawa.”
Campbell began his coaching career in 1996 at the University of Oregon where he served as a graduate assistant with the Ducks’ coaching staff, helping with the defensive secondary and special teams.
He made his CFL debut in 1999 with the Edmonton Eskimos as defensive secondary and special-teams coordinator, spending the next six seasons in that role before being promoted to defensive coordinator from 2005-2008. He moved to Winnipeg in 2009 as defensive backs and special-teams coordinator with the Blue Bombers before returning to Alberta to coach the running backs with the Stampeders in 2010.
In 2011, Campbell became assistant head coach and special-teams coordinator with the Eskimos before taking on the defensive coordinator title back in Calgary in 2012, where he spent two seasons before moving to Ottawa.
Rick Campbell during practice in Ottawa Tuesday Oct 29, 2019.
Rick Campbell shows off the Grey Cup as his team arrives at TD Place and were welcomed by fans, November 28, 2016.
BUSY OFF-SEASON AHEAD FOR REDBLACKS
What already looked like a big off-season shopping list for the Ottawa Redblacks got a lot bigger Monday.
Coach Rick Campbell announced he was stepping away from the team. And, for now, defensive coordinator Noel Thorpe and all of the team’s position coaches are also in limbo. Their contracts expire in December.
“I informed everybody (on Monday) morning — I wanted to give them a reasonable timeline in terms of trying to get what they felt they needed to get done, done,” said Redblacks GM Marcel Desjardins. “Right now, all of (the coaches) are pending. They would be options for a new head coach.”
At least two of the team’s coaches — special-teams coordinator Bob Dyce (who has head coaching experience in Saskatchewan) and Thorpe — could get strong consideration as Campbell’s replacement.
It makes sense that the Redblacks wait until after the Grey Cup. There will be strong head coaching candidates from a few of the remaining playoff teams. It’s also possible current head coaches get fired and become available.
“I would hope (we have a head coach) before Christmas,” said Desjardins. “It has to be somebody who understands the CFL and has been in the CFL.”
“Marcel has full authority and autonomy to put the football ops and coaching staff together, I’ll stay out of his kitchen on that,” said Ottawa Sports and Entertainment Group CEO/president Mark Goudie. “I’ll probably participate in the interview process,more for explaining the organization and what the Redblacks and OSEG are all about. Marcel has carte blanche to figure out what the staff will look like next year.”
Asked how far the team was away from being competitive, Desjardins said, “Not far.”
Asked if he expected the team would be more active in free agency, he said: “Yeah I would say so. Partly because there will be a lot more options.”
Near the top of the to-do list in free agency will be to find a quarterback.
“We need to go find somebody else to come in here, whether we hand that person the job or whether that person competes with the guys that are back, that’s to be determined based on who those options are,” said Desjardins.
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November 05, 2019 at 07:01AM
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