RICHIE HALL INTRODUCED AS ESKIMO COACH

REGINA -- Richie Hall called it a bittersweet day to be leaving the Saskatchewan Roughriders to become the new head coach of the Edmonton Eskimos.
But he will be taking a piece of his former team with him.

“The reason why I feel I’m here is because of the play of the players over the last seven or eight years,” Hall said during a conference call from Edmonton on Wednesday. “What we want to do here is a carry-over of what we’ve done in Saskatchewan for the last number of years, whether it’s speed, whether it’s attitude or getting to the football. That’s an identity we had and that’s an identity we want to continue in Edmonton. Our defence will be very -- I don’t want to say blueprinted -- but very influenced by what we’ve done with the Green and White over the years. We’re going to make that part of the Green and Gold.”

Hall spent close to 20 years with the Roughriders as a player and coach. He joined the team as a defensive back in 1988 and over the next four seasons was twice named a West Division all-star and shared in the 1989 Grey Cup victory. He rejoined the team as a defensive assistant in 1994 before being promoted to defensive co-ordinator in 2001 and earning a second Grey Cup ring in 2007.

Through that time, Hall became a fixture in the Saskatchewan sporting community, appearing at numerous charity events over the years, including his annual golf tournament in Yorkton.
“It’s a place I’ve been for the last 20 years, but at the same time, all good things must end,” said Hall. “This was a great opportunity for myself. It’s a bittersweet day for me personally because I’m very elated to be the head coach of the Edmonton Eskimos but at the same time I’m very sad to be leaving. The Saskatchewan people have been very supportive of the organization as well as myself for many years. I’m going to miss those fans, but at the same time, this is a new chapter in my life and I’m looking forward to the challenge that presents itself.”

Hall was interviewed for the head coaching position last week -- his seventh such interview since 2004 -- before the announcement was made Wednesday. Hall was in a group of four finalists that included Eskimos assistant Noel Thorpe, Winnipeg Blue Bombers defensive co-ordinator Greg Marshall and B.C. Lions defensive co-ordinator Mike Benevides.

While Eskimos general manager and director of football operations Danny Maciocia -- who relinquished the coaching reigns Nov. 27 -- talked to a lot of people before coming to a decision, he’s didn’t have to go far for some advice.

“(I went to quarterbacks) Ricky Ray and Jason Maas and asked them, ‘Who is the toughest guy to go up against on the defensive side of the ball?’ It was unanimous and that was Richie’s name,” said Maciocia. “At the same time, we weren’t just looking for a football coach. You can make an argument that all of the people I interviewed are all qualified football coaches. We were also looking for an individual who possesses those skills as far as what he brings off the field:

What can he do in the community? How are his people skills? Can he rally people? One of his strengths that caught my attention is that people enjoyed playing for him.”
That fact could mean stiff competition for the Roughriders in the free-agent market. All three of Saskatchewan’s 2008 starting linebackers -- Maurice Lloyd, Anton McKenzie and Sean Lucas -- are set to become free agents in February.

“I’m sure there will be some losses,” said Saskatchewan general manager Eric Tillman. “In the real world, had Richie stayed, we still would have had attrition. But, sure, when you have a man of his character with the relationship he has with his players, it’s going to have an impact.”
Hall had been interviewed -- and passed over -- for head coaching positions so many times before that he was beginning to think it might not happen for him.

“I thought it intrigued (Maciocia) enough to at least want to talk to me again,” Hall said with a chuckle. “When he offered it to me, it was a no-brainer. It was something I never dreamed of.”
Now the challenge is to parlay his success as a co-ordinator into success as a head coach. Hall, who has not yet settled on a staff but plans to talk to those inside and outside the organization about jobs, does not plan to take on the role of defensive co-ordinator with the Eskimos.

“I will be able to provide some guidance to the defensive coaches given that the foundation will be what we’ve done for the last number of years (in Saskatchewan),” said Hall. “I will have some influence over the defence, but my job is to be the head coach.”