He hasn't coached a game yet, and Paul LaPolice has already pulled off his first upset victory.
LaPolice was viewed as the underdog in the race to become the 28th head coach in Winnipeg Blue Bombers history, but he pulled it out thanks to a solid interview and a strong offensive background.
The Saskatchewan Roughriders offensive co-ordinator got the nod over Greg Marshall, who became the front-runner when he got a public endorsement from Winnipeg Football Club board member Joe Poplawski two weeks ago.
While it was no secret several members of the board wanted Marshall, new Bomber GM Joe Mack said Mike Kelly's replacement was going to be his decision. He has hammered that point home by tapping LaPolice to return to Winnipeg, where he served as offensive co-ordinator in 2002 and 2003.
Numerous sources across the league confirmed LaPolice's hiring on Thursday, and the Nashua, N.H., native was officially introduced Friday at noon at Canad Inns Stadium.
LaPolice is known for being a hard worker and strong game-planner whose biggest pet peeve is turnovers.
"He is one of the bright young coaches in the league," one CFL executive said Thursday. "He is as ready (to be a head coach) as anyone else in the league."
A second source said a big reason for LaPolice's success in landing his first head coaching gig is timing.
"The Bombers' offence was bad," the source said. "It was easy to prepare for and easy to defend. That's probably why LaPolice got the job over Marshall. They had to do something to fix that offence."
It's unknown if LaPolice will hire his own offensive co-ordinator or handle the duties himself, but the speculation is Riders quarterbacks coach Jamie Barresi would be a candidate.
The only assistant currently on Winnipeg's staff who worked with LaPolice during his first stint with the Bombers is receivers coach Bob Dyce, believed to be another OC candidate.
It's believed current special teams coach Rick Campbell and defensive line boss Richard Harris will have a shot at becoming LaPolice's defensive co-ordinator, while current DC Mark Nelson and offensive line coach Charlie Carpenter likely will be let go. Defensive quality control coach Don Burrell's status is unknown.
LaPolice was at the helm of the Bomber offence that laid a licking on CFL defences in 2002 but tailed off considerably in 2003. LaPolice wasn't brought back in 2004, but his quarterback at the time, Khari Jones, doesn't believe the man known as "LaPo" was at fault.
"You become a fall guy for becoming successful," Jones said Thursday from Hamilton, where he is currently the Ticats' quarterbacks coach. "It was just the time it was. Coming off 2001 and 2002, there were going to be problems when you lose key players.
"He did a good job. He stayed consistent throughout. And he's gone on to do some very good things in the CFL. It was just one of those things that happens."
LaPolice was Hamilton's receivers coach for two years after leaving Winnipeg and spent 2006 in Toronto doing the same job under offensive co-ordinator Kent Austin, who brought him to Saskatchewan in the same capacity in 2007.
After helping the Roughriders beat the Bombers in the 2007 Grey Cup, he moved up to offensive co-ordinator when Ken Miller replaced Austin as head coach.
The Rider offence was ranked sixth in yardage the last two seasons, but when it came to points scored it was fourth in 2008 and tied for second in 2009, when they came within a point of winning the Grey Cup. Working against LaPolice and the Riders were uncertainty at quarterback and several injuries to key offensive players.
"He's a good man," Riders GM Brendan Taman said earlier this week. "He's a good coach. He got the most out of what we had here (in 2009). He was very productive with it."
The biggest challenge LaPolice will face in Winnipeg is at quarterback. The future of Michael Bishop, who played for LaPolice in Saskatchewan in 2008, is iffy, but don't be surprised if LaPolice takes a run at someone with whom he is familiar: Saskatchewan backup Steven Jyles, who is scheduled to become a free agent in 10 days.
kirk.penton@sunmedia.ca
