The Ottawa Redblacks have hired Alex Suber, Pat Perles, and Deion Melvin as part of finalizing their coaching staff for 2024.
Suber coached with the Redblacks for three seasons but left following the 2022 campaign to serve as an assistant coach at Middle Tennessee State University, his alma mater. The 37-year-old native of Tampa Bay, Fla. has now returned to resume his role as the club’s defensive backs coach, replacing Jykine Bradley.
Perles will be Ottawa’s new offensive line coach. He spent six seasons coaching the CFL during the 1990s, serving as the offensive line coach of the Saskatchewan Roughriders (1994-96), Winnipeg Blue Bombers (1997), and Hamilton Tiger-Cats (1998-99), winning one Grey Cup in Steeltown. He has also coached at the NFL level as a defensive assistant with the Los Angeles Rams and Kansas City Chiefs and at the NCAA level with Toledo, North Dakota State, Syracuse, and Michigan State.
Perles replaces Charbonneau, who joined the Redblacks in 2022 under head coach Paul LaPolice. The Ottawa native has previously coached with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, Montreal Alouettes, Roosevelt University, Washington University in St. Louis, and Lindenwood University-Belleville.
The Redblacks have also hired Deion Melvin to serve as their linebackers coach, replacing Patrick Bourgon. Melvin spent the last four years working in the same capacity with the Saskatchewan Roughriders following stints at East Aurora, Western Illinois, Missouri State, Georgia Southern, Bowling Green, Ball State, and Lindenwood University.
The rest of Ottawa’s coaching staff has remained unchanged, aside from the addition of Tommy Condell which was announced in December following the firing of Khari Jones. Condell will serve as the Redblacks’ offensive coordinator following a four-year run with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.
“I’m delighted to have Barron, Cory, Nathan, Travis, and Nadia remain on staff, and excited to announce the additions of Tommy, Alex, Pat, and Deion to the group,” said head coach Bob Dyce in a statement. “The new coaches bring a wealth of knowledge, passion, and energy. It’s a great combination of experience and youth, and we all look forward to working with the players and having a successful 2024 season.”
The rest of Ottawa’s coaching staff includes defensive coordinator Barron Miles, defensive backs coach Alex Suber, receivers coach and pass game coordinator Travis Moore, running backs coach Nate Taylor, coaches’ assistant Nadia Doucoure, and special teams coordinator Cory McDiarmid.
The Redblacks have a bye during the first week of the 2024 regular season before hosting the Winnipeg Blue Bombers on Thursday, June 13 at TD Place Stadium.
