Winnipeg Blue Bombers’ head coach Mike O’Shea isn’t surprised that the Saskatchewan Roughriders are considering Buck Pierce for their head coaching vacancy.
“We’ve got a good staff,” said O’Shea on Monday. “Why wouldn’t teams want our guys?”
Pierce has been on staff in Winnipeg since 2014 when he retired as a player to become the club’s running backs coach. He was promoted to the role of quarterbacks coach in 2016 and to offensive coordinator in 2020 when Paul LaPolice left the organization to become the head coach of the Ottawa Redblacks.
O’Shea isn’t giving his colleague any particular advice regarding his potential next step but acknowledged that the two have discussed the matter at hand.
“Those are just conversations between two friends that have worked together for a decade. It’s not about the business at that point,” said O’Shea. “I want whatever’s best for Buck and his family.”
The 42-year-old from Hutchinson, Kan. played nine seasons at quarterback in the CFL as a member of the B.C. Lions and Blue Bombers, winning a Grey Cup in 2006. He has since won two more as an assistant coach in Winnipeg and has helped lead one of the league’s most potent offences for the past few years.
Dru Brown’s pending free agency has also led to speculation that the young pivot could potentially follow Pierce to Regina if he becomes the Riders’ next head coach. The young passer has drawn rave reviews from Zach Collaros, who believes Brown could be the best quarterback in the CFL if put in the right situation to succeed.
