The Ottawa Redblacks have hired former Montreal Alouettes’ head coach Khari Jones as their offensive coordinator and assistant head coach.
Jones is the first hire of newly named head coach Bob Dyce, who had his interim tag officially removed on Friday. The two men previously worked together with the Saskatchewan Roughriders in 2012 and 2013, with Jones spending one of those seasons as quarterbacks coach while Dyce served as offensive coordinator. The next year, the new Redblacks’ head coach was shuffled to special teams coordinator as the team won the Grey Cup.
“I’m extremely pleased to have Khari join the Redblacks family; KJ is a great communicator and teacher who brings a wealth of knowledge, experience and energy to Ottawa,” Dyce said in a statement. “I’ve known KJ for nearly 20 years and we won a Grey Cup together in 2013. It was important to get a man of integrity like Khari to lead our offence going forward and I’m excited to work with him once again.”
Jones most recently served as a football operations consultant with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, joining the team mid-season after he was unceremoniously fired by the Montreal Alouettes following a 1-3 start to the season. The 51-year-old had served as head coach and offensive coordinator in La Belle Province since being unexpectedly promoted ahead of the 2019 season, posting an 18-18 record and leading the team to the playoffs in consecutive years.
“I’m very happy and excited to be a part of Bob Dyce’s staff in Ottawa; I have known Bob for over 20 years and I am honoured to work with him again,” Jones said in a statement. “I can’t wait to help deliver a dynamic offence for RNation and help push us towards the collective goal of bringing a Grey Cup back to Ottawa.”
Prior to joining the Alouettes as offensive coordinator in 2018, Jones spent three seasons in the same role with the B.C. Lions. He also served as quarterbacks coach in Saskatchewan for two years. The Hammond, Indiana native began his coaching career with the Ti-Cats, working as quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator from 2009 to 2011.
A product of UC Davis, Jones has a decorated 11-year playing career as a quarterback in the CFL, mostly with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. He was named the league’s Most Oustanding Player and a CFL All-Star in 2001 en route to a Grey Cup appearance, while also earning CFL West All-Star honours in 2002.
