The B.C. Lions have hired Ryan Rigmaiden away from the defending Grey Cup champion Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
Rigmaiden returns to the west coast as the Director of United States scouting.
“B.C. has always been my football home. I love the people in that building and those great relationships I have established out there made this decision to return a no-brainer for me,” Rigmaiden said.
Rigmaiden previously was with the Lions for six seasons from 2012-2017 and spent the last four of those as Director of U.S. scouting. In the role, he was responsible for the recruitment and signing of many of the team’s key American players.
“Ryan has a great eye for talent and we’re thrilled to have him back with our football operations staff,” Lions president Rick LeLacheur said.
“Given his history with the Lions, he will work greatly alongside Neil McEvoy and Rick Campbell as we continue to put a championship-calibre team on the field for 2021.”
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The native of Spokane, Wash. spent the last three years with the Blue Bombers as Director of College Scouting, earning a Grey Cup ring in 2019.
“It’s been a terrific three years with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, but I’m happy to announce I have joined the BC Lions,” Rigmaiden tweeted. “My sincere thanks to the personnel, coaching and support staff in WPG for making it so special, and very special thanks to Ted Goveia and Danny McManus.”
Prior to his time in the CFL, Rigmaiden was with the Arena Football League’s Spokane Shock where he began as Director of Player Personnel in 2006 and eventually became GM in 2010. The Shock won two league championships and had an overall record of 88-31 during Rigmaiden’s tenure with the team.
Rigmaiden turned down the Montreal Alouettes’ general manager job in December 2019.
