Making It Official In Winnipeg

Who's next?

BlueBombers.com Staff

WINNIPEG -- The Winnipeg Football Club has revealed its offensive and defensive coordinators today, and the two join the Blue and Gold with a combined 21 years of CFL experience.

On the defensive side, the Blue Bombers have hired Kavis Reed to fill the role as the team’s Defensive Coordinator and Assistant Head Coach. Reed joins the Blue and Gold after also spending the 2009 season with the Saskatchewan Roughriders as their running backs/special team’s coordinator.

Prior to his time in Saskatchewan, Reed spent two seasons with the Toronto Argonauts where he initially worked as a defensive assistant before moving into the defensive coordinator position in 2008. In that season the Argos had the best pass defence in the league, allowing a mere 264 yards per game, and allowed the fewest first downs through the air. The 2008 Argos also held the league’s top tackler in Zeke Moreno (97).

Reed spent three seasons as the defensive coordinator in Hamilton from 2004-2007 and helped turn around a unit that went 1-17 in 2003, to 9-8-1 and a playoff berth in 2004. After initially beginning his coaching career with the Argonauts in 2001, as the team’s defensive backs coach and special team’s coordinator, Reed spent the 2003 season as the defensive backs coach in Ottawa.

“I’m very excited to welcome Kavis to the Blue Bomber organization. His passion and knowledge of the CFL game is extensive and I look forward to working with him,” said head coach Paul LaPolice.

On the offensive side of the ball, the Blue Bombers welcome Jamie Barresi as the club’s Offensive Coordinator. Barresi is entering his 7th season as a coach in the CFL and spent the past two seasons with the Saskatchewan Roughriders. He joined the Riders in 2008 as the running backs coach, and Saskatchewan’s Wes Cates finished second in league rushing with 1,229 and 12 touchdowns (top in the CFL).

Last season he turned his focus and expertise to the quarterbacks. Under Barresi’s guidance in 2009, pivot Darian Durant was 4th in the league in passing with 4,348 yards and 24 touchdowns, leading the Riders to the Grey Cup final. Previous to his time in Saskatchewan, Barresi spent two seasons with the B.C. Lions, coaching receivers and running backs. In 2007, when he was responsible for the receivers, the Lions were home to the league’s top pass catcher in Geroy Simon, who hauled in 72 receptions for 1,293 yards and six touchdowns. He came into the CFL in 2004 where he served as Hamilton’s offensive coordinator for two seasons.

His offence finished the season third in total offensive yards with 7,287 and third in yards per game with 404.8. In addition, Baressi has extensive coaching experience in the collegiate ranks, coaching three seasons at University of Central Florida, eight seasons at Wake Forest, three seasons at Penn State and two seasons at University of Florida.

“He is a great teacher of the game and will be instrumental in our success offensively,” said head coach Paul LaPolice.