BCLions.com Staff
BC Lions Football Club head coach Mike Benevides announced this afternoon that Rich Stubler has been named the team’s new defensive coordinator.
“Rich brings a tremendous amount of experience and success to our club and I am very pleased he has accepted the position of defensive coordinator,” said Benevides. “Having an opportunity to work with Rich in 2010 was a great experience for everyone and his return to the Lions is great news for our organization.”
Stubler comes to the Lions after spending the 2011 season as the defensive coordinator for the Edmonton Eskimos. Last season, the Eskimos’ defence ranked in the top three of 12 different statistical categories including interceptions (25-1st) and quarterback sacks (39-3rd).
“I’m excited to return to the Lions and work with Mike,” said Stubler. “Clearly, they established themselves as a dominant team on defence last season, and I am fortunate to inherit both a terrific staff and some of the league’s best defensive performers.”
This will be Stubler’s third stint with the Leos and second as defensive coordinator after helping the Lions to a Grey Cup victory in 2000. He originally came to the CFL in 1983 as defensive coordinator for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and eventually helped lead the team to a Grey Cup Championship in 1986.
A renowned football strategist with four decades of coaching experience, Stubler has also made multiple stops in Toronto and Edmonton as well as serving at New Mexico State, Southern Methodist University, Colorado State, Oregon and the Detroit Fury of the Arena Football League.