The Montreal Alouettes began their search for a new head coach by concluding a first round of interviews on Thursday. Several internal candidates, including former players Anthony Calvillo and Byron Archambault have been considered so far.
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The five men interviewed are quarterbacks coach Anthony Calvillo, special teams coordinator and linebackers coach Byron Archambault, running backs coach and assistant head coach André Bolduc and defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach Noel Thorp. In addition, former Als quarterback and ex-Edmonton Elks head coach Jason Maas was also interviewed.
“We are proud of the candidates who participated in the first round of interviews,” said general manager Danny Maciocia, who handled the interviews along with president Mario Cecchini, in a press release. We had the opportunity to listen to each coach’s plan and how they would approach the position.
It was also Maciocia who had taken over after the dismissal of Khari Jones. Under his supervision, the Alouettes went 8-6 in the regular season before losing in the Eastern Conference final to the Toronto Argonauts.
The head coach of the Laval University Rouge et Or, Glen Constantin, refused to speak in Montreal to remain in the Quebec Student Sports Network. Another possible candidate was Bob Dyce, who the Alouettes would have liked to talk to, but he accepted the same position with the Ottawa Redblacks last week.
The organization said it wanted to announce the identity of its new pilot by Christmas. A second series of interviews will begin “as soon as possible”.