Esks Offence Gets New Boss

The Edmonton Eskimos announced this week they have hired Jacques Chapdelaine as the club’s Offensive Coordinator/Assistant Head Coach.

Eskimo Head Coach and Director of Football Operations Danny Maciocia says, “Jacques is an outstanding offensive coach and he’s enjoyed great success at both the CIS and CFL levels.”

Chapdelaine comes to the Eskimos after four years with the B.C. Lions, the last two as their Offensive Coordinator. Jacques began his coaching career at Bishop’s University in 1990 as offensive coordinator. In 1992, he got his first pro coaching job as special teams and receivers coach for the Toronto Argonauts. Two years later, he returned to Bishop’s as the offensive coordinator before moving on to Laval in 1997 as head coach. He led the Rouge et Or to the Vanier Cup championship in 1999. Jacques returned to the CFL in 2001 as the Calgary Stampeders’ special teams and receivers coach. The Stamps won the Grey Cup in 2001 and Jacques was promoted to offensive coordinator in 2002.

“Jacques has been a big part of our success over the past four seasons and the BC Lions Football Club wishes him the very best in his new role as assistant head coach in Edmonton,” said Lions GM and head coach Wally Buono.

Under Chapdelaine’s guidance the Lions enjoyed the CFL’s leading passing offence (5261 yards), completion percentage (68.3) and quarterback efficiency rating (104.9). The Lions’ offence also ranked in the top three of 12 different categories in 2006 including points (485) and touchdowns (49).

Chapdelaine was drafted out of Simon Fraser University in the first round of the 1983 draft by the B.C. Lions. He played seven seasons in the CFL with B.C., Montreal, Hamilton and Calgary.