The Ottawa Redblacks have finalized their coaching staff with the additions of veteran defensive line coach Mike Phair and former Carleton Ravens interim head coach Paul Eddy Saint-Vilien joining as a defensive assistant.
Ottawa’s former defensive line coach, Carey Bailey, has left the organization to take a position outside of football.
Phair spent the 2021 season as a defensive assistant at Stanford University and has served on the coaching staff of five different NFL teams since 2009, most recently as defensive line coach of the Carolina Panthers in 2020.
The 52-year-old spent two seasons as the defensive line coach of the Indianapolis Colts (2018-2019) and held the same role with the Chicago Bears for three years (2011-2013). He has also been an assistant defensive line coach with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Seattle Seahawks.
The native of Mesa, Arizona has also worked as a scout with the Buccaneers and Seahawks, helping Tampa Bay to a Super Bowl XXXVII victory in 2003.
As a player, Phair suited up as a linebacker with Arizona State Univeristy (1990-1992), after earning All-Conference honours with Mesa Community College.
Saint-Vilien joins the Redblacks after spending the last four years with the Carleton Ravens, most recently serving as interim head coach and defensive coordinator. Prior to his time with Carleton, Saint-Vilien served as defensive coordinator and linebackers coach with the Montreal Carabins between 2014-2017.
The Montreal native won the Vanier Cup with the Carabins in 2014 while also capturing the Uteck Bowl in 2014 and the Mitchell Bowl the following season.
He played collegiately for the Spartans of Cegep du Vieux Montreal, as well as a year with the Laval Rouge et Or in 2000. Following his playing career, he joined Laval as a video analysis coach in time for the school’s Vanier Cup wins in 2003 and 2004.
