Esks coaches 2009

[Eskinator]

EDMONTON -- Edmonton Eskimo Head Coach Richie Hall today announced his coaching staff for the 2009 CFL season.   
 
“I was looking for individuals, who think creatively, possess CFL experience and above all who are good character people. This staff meets all of those criteria and I’m excited to begin work on the 2009 season,” stated Coach Hall.
 
Assistant Head Coach/Special Teams Coordinator – Noel Thorpe
Returns for his second season with the Esks to oversee the special team unit and adds the duties of Assistant Head Coach to his portfolio.  He spent his first six CFL seasons (2002 – ’07) with the Montreal Alouettes.
 
Defensive Coordinator/Defensive Line Coach – Jim Daley
One of the top defensive strategists in the Canadian game, Daley has been a head coach in Saskatchewan (1996 – ’98) and Winnipeg (2004 – ‘05), defensive coordinator for Saskatchewan (1994-’95) and an assistant with Calgary (2001) and Ottawa (1991). In 2007, he was the CFL’s senior director of officiating development. The Ottawa native was head coach of the Ottawa Sooners and the University of Ottawa before moving to the pro ranks.     
 
Linebackers – Danny Kepley
Kepley enters his eighth season on the Eskimo staff; fourth as linebackers coach. A member of  both the Canadian Football Hall of Fame and the Eskimo Wall of Honour, Kepley had a storied playing career as a linebacker with the Esks, helping to lead the club to five consecutive Grey Cups from 1978 – ’82.
 
Defensive Backs – Stacey Hairston
He has spent the past 12 seasons at his alma mater Ohio Northern University. Hairston also served as the head coach of the successful women’s golf team at ONU for the past seven years. Hairston was a multi-sport collegiate star who was a standout defensive back with the Saskatchewan Roughriders (1990-’92) and the NFL’s Cleveland Browns (1993-’94).         
 
Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks – Rick Worman
Returns for his third season with the Esks; his second overseeing the club’s offence. A former CFL quarterback who played six seasons with Calgary, Edmonton and Saskatchewan, Worman was Winnipeg’s offensive coordinator in 2001. 
 
Offensive Line – Jeff Bleamer
A former NFL player who made the jump to a stellar coaching career in the U.S. college ranks, Bleamer joins the Esks after spending 2007 – 2008 with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. Bleamer has coached at Colorado (1985 – ’86), the Citadel (1987 – 1997) where he worked with former CFL coach Charlie Taaffe, East Tennessee State (1997 – 2002) and Ohio State (2003 – ’04). 
 
Receivers – Jason Tucker
One of the most prolific pass catchers in Eskimo history, Tucker moves to the coaching ranks after suffering a fractured neck last season that cut short his playing career.  The four-time CFL and CFL West All-Star and 2003 Grey Cup MVP finished with 7046 yards receiving, fourth on the Eskimo all-time list.   
 
Running Backs – Terry Eisler
Eisler enters his third season with the Esks. Eisler was instrumental in the development of Calvin McCarty who emerged as one of the CFL’s top Canadian stars. Before joining the Esks, Eisler was the offensive coordinator at the University of Alberta.