Some fans were probably surprised to see the name of Byron Archambault among the five candidates vying for the vacant position of head coach of the Montreal Alouettes.
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The 32-year-old has only two seasons of experience in the Canadian Football League (CFL), who was defensive assistant in 2021 and special teams coordinator in 2022. He is also involved on the second floor with the “ Sparrows”, since he has held the role of director of player personnel for two years, after having been in charge of national recruitment in 2020.
General manager Danny Maciocia, who was the Alouettes’ interim head coach this year, had a front row seat to see Archambault in action.
“When I got my first job as a head coach in the Canadian League, I was 35 years old. Byron is 32 and he was one of our best coaches this year. He is a leader of men, ”said the DG.
“When is the right time to become a head coach? he continued. Look at Sean McVay in the NFL and there are other examples.
Here, Maciocia is referring to the Los Angeles Rams pilot. In 2017, McVay became the youngest head coach in NFL history at 30 years and 11 months. In his fifth season at the helm of the Californian club, he became the youngest coach to win the Super Bowl.
In high esteem
There is no doubt that Maciocia holds Archambault in very high esteem. The two men have worked together for more than a decade. From 2011 to 2014, Archambault played under Maciocia for the University of Montreal Carabins. Two years later, after a stint as a linebacker with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, the native of the Quebec metropolis became the special teams coordinator for his mentor at UdeM.
“I have seen him at work for many years and there is no one who values Byron Archambault more than Danny Maciocia,” said the DG.
“There is no one in coaching who is more respected internally in our organization,” he added.
Throughout the last season, the players of the “Als” questioned about Archambault had nothing but good things to say. This was particularly the case of kick return specialist Chandler Worthy at the beginning of last November.
“He’s an incredible leader,” he said after training. He did a great job of bringing us together and making sure that we believed in our collective abilities.
This type of comments, they were dozens to make similar ones.
“A matter of time”
If ever Archambault does not get the job this time, it will only be a postponement.
“It’s just a matter of time in Byron’s case,” Maciocia said. When you’re ready, you’re ready. That doesn’t mean Byron is ready right now, but he deserved an interview.”
“I wanted to confront him with certain things and he responded well. It was among the best interviews we’ve had. He has to be in the conversation.”
“Is he going to get the job? I do not know. Will he be a head coach in the CFL one day? Yes.”
Maciocia did not hesitate to conclude our interview by saying that he saw Archambault “as the future of the Montreal Alouettes”. A meaningful statement.