The Saskatchewan Roughriders announced today that Corey Chamblin has been named their new head coach.
“We are very excited about hiring Corey to be our head coach,” stated General Manager Brendan Taman. “He brings a vision with him that will lead to a team the fans will be proud of. Being a head coach is about managing men and relating to the players which I feel is Corey’s strong point.”
Chamblin comes to the Green and White from the Hamilton Tiger-Cats where he most recently served as the Defensive Coordinator and Defensive Backs Coach. Chamblin spent three seasons working with the defensive backs in Calgary where the Stamps secondary had great success and were looked upon as some of the toughest defensive backs in the CFL. In 2008 the Stamps claimed the Grey Cup after holding the CFL’s Most Outstanding Player Anthony Calvillo without a touchdown pass in the championship game. Over the course of his time in Calgary, Chamblin led a number of players to great achievements including Brandon Browner who is a current starting cornerback for the NFL’s Seattle Seahawks.
“To be named the head coach is a great opportunity and I am genuinely excited to be a part of the Saskatchewan Roughriders, “stated Chamblin. “I have always looked at the Riders knowing it is a team I could be a part of. It’s so similar to where I’m from and what I’m used to – the work ethic of the players, the professionalism of the organization and the excitement of the fans – this is how football is supposed to be.”
When he first arrived in the CFL in 2007, Chamblin served as the Defensive Backs Coach with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers who had the second best pass defence in the CFL. They also held the MOP of that season - Kerry Joseph to a mere 181 passing yards in the Grey Cup game.
Since entering the CFL all teams Chamblin has been a part of have always made it to division finals or the Grey Cup each and every year. That winning mentality was evident among his players as he molded and guided Browner, Dwight Anderson and Justin Hickman to being named CFL All-Stars during his time with their respective teams.
Before coming to the CFL, the Birmingham, Alabama native spent time coaching in NFL Europe in 2006 where he worked as a defensive assistant and secondary coach for the Frankfurt Galaxy who went on to claim the World Bowl Championship. During that season he helped develop a young Joselio Hanson who went on the following season to sign with the Philadelphia Eagles where he remains a key component of the teams secondary. In addition during the 2006 season, Chamblin completed a coaching internship with the NFL’s Washington Redskins.
Chamblin began his coaching career in 2005 when he became an assistant coach at Cumberland University in Tennessee.
In high school Chamblin played a variety of positions for the football team including defensive back, linebacker and running back. His versatility as a player led to a full scholarship at Tennessee Tech where he played free safety.
Despite going undrafted, Chamblin went on to sign as a free agent with the Baltimore Ravens in 1999. That season he played with Jacksonville Jaguars where he was a member of the team’s first defensive squad and blocked a punt in the AFC Divisional victory over the Miami Dolphins. He remained in the NFL until 2004 spending time with the Green Bay Packers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Denver Broncos and Indianapolis Colts. He rounded out his playing career with the Rhein Fire of NFL Europe.
During his time in the NFL Chamblin had the opportunity to play for Mike Tomlin – Head Coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers. At the time Tomlin was the Defensive Backs Coach with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at the young age of 29. It was then that Chamblin made the realization that his future would be in coaching. Since that time the two have stayed in touch and Tomlin remains to be a great mentor to Chamblin who feels the young coach blazed a path for others to follow after being named a Head Coach in the NFL at the age of 34.
Corey, his wife Samantha, son Karter and their two dogs India and Maggie are excited to make the move to Riderville.
Chamblin becomes the 29th head coach in Riders modern history.
Here is what sounded like as Chamblin was introduced....
TamanChamblinDec15 by mblairregina
11 comments:
Only time will tell if this is a good hire, but I'm lukewarm on this right now.
There's already a lot of negativity out there. Can we not get behind this guy? Its obvious that Dickenson didn't want to be here so why bemoan the thought that he isn't the new guy. Lets welcome this guy and hope he can bring a GC to Saskatchewan in 2012, 13 and beyond.
If he can get Hickman here, I would be happy! That may be too much to ask though as he is likely NFL bound.
This guy's defence wasn't lights out in Hamilton so why he is so highly touted?
Justin
Welcome Corey, I just hope you hire a DC not named Richie Hall.
His defence in Hamilton was brutal so him and Ritchie Hall will have something in common
I will be more excited when Taman and Hoppy are fired after the 2012 season then Austin will have no problem coming back here.
I don't think Taman would have hired Dave D. anyways. Taman wanted and knew he was going to hire Chamblin before interviews even started.
Coaches only have success when the GM supplies them with the talent that fits their objectives. A guy can be a great coach but looks average because of the talent and vice-versa. Not to flog a dead horse but is the talent on the Riders as good or worse than when Austin took over??We need to give Corey a reasonable period of time to be successful not the first 7 games. I think he is a very good young coach who brings a lot to the Riders. My hope is the fans give him a warm welcome and understand he needs our support.
Go Riders
Robert in Riderville
I think this is an excellent hire. Young, enthusiastic, says we will be aggressive in all 3 phases. For those who say the TiCat D was not great, that could be lots of things, including lack of talent. Stevie Baggs without John Chick, remember.
TiCats wanted him, Stamps wanted him, we got him.
Go Riders.
DM
Wow what a lousy hire- Greg Marshall chapter 2, but Marshall's Ticats D was better. Coming from Taman though this doesn't suprise me. Chamblin was probably the only coach that wanted the job working under a guy like Taman.
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