RIDER PRIDE

Riders set to promote Etcheverry

Canwest News ServiceJanuary 26, 2009 11:52 AM

Riders defensive assistant coach Gary Etcheverry
Photograph by: Bryan Schlosser, The Leader-Post

Gary Etcheverry could be due for a promotion.

It appears Etcheverry, a defensive assistant coach with the Saskatchewan Roughriders, will be promoted to defensive co-ordinator. Etcheverry is expected to fill the vacancy which was created when Richie Hall was hired as the head coach of the Edmonton Eskimos on Dec. 17.
An announcement on Etcheverry's promotion could be made early this week. Etcheverry and Riders head coach Ken Miller have a relationship that dates back to their time as coaches with the Toronto Argonauts. When Etcheverry was the head coach with the Argonauts in 2002, he added Miller to his coaching staff.

Etcheverry has spent eight seasons in the CFL, including 2000 and 2008 with the Roughriders. He was the Roughriders' defensive co-ordinator in 2000, under head coach Danny Barrett.

The Riders are also believed to be in talks with Argos' defensive co-ordinator Kavis Reed, who is said to be considering coaching opportunities in the United States. Reed is being considered as a defensive backs coach.

CFL veteran Dave Ritchie also remains in the mix as a possible assistant coach.
It's believed that former Winnipeg Blue Bombers offensive line coach Bob Wylie is all but confirmed as the Riders' offensive line coach. Wylie would replace Mike Gibson, who left the Riders to become the offensive co-ordinator with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.