Calgary Stampeders’ head coach Dave Dickenson will not be on the sideline for his team’s matchup with the Ottawa Redblacks on Friday night.
Dickenson has been out of commission after testing positive for COVID-19 earlier in the week and was unable to clear protocol in time for the team’s regularly scheduled flight on Thursday. The veteran head coach had a flight reservation booked for Friday in the hopes of joining his team prior to kickoff but failed to record a negative test in time.
According to the league’s COVID policy, individuals who test positive are required to isolate for five-to-seven days or until they can produce a negative test.
According to the team, head coaching duties for this contest will pass to assistant head coach and special teams coordinator Mark Kilam, who has run practices during Dickenson’s absence. The native of Lethbridge, Alta. has been with the organization for 18 years and steadily worked his way up the coaching ranks after originally serving as the team’s strength and conditioning coach.
Offensive play-calling will be a collaborative effort, with offensive line coach Pat DelMonaco and quarterbacks coach Marc Mueller expected to have to biggest role. General manager John Hufnagel, who Dickenson took over for in 2016, will also be on the sidelines to assist all coaches.
Kickoff against the Redblacks is scheduled for 7:30 p.m ET.
