Lions fire head coach Benevides

[matchuk]

The BC Lions have fired head coach Mike Benevides.

Benevides has been the team's head coach since taking over for general manager Wally Buono in 2012. The former defensive coordinator had a 33-21 regular season record in three years at the helm of the team, but his record regressed every year and he failed to win a playoff game in that time.
Buono, who left the sidelines after winning the 2011 Grey Cup with the Lions, said earlier this week he would consider coaching on an interim basis.

The Lions signed Benevides to an extension at the start of this season.




http://www.tsn.ca/lions-fire-head-coach-benevides-1.140155

[Double Dare]

I never really liked Benny all that much ... but anyway ... it must have been hard for him to be the bottom man for Wally all this time.

[argonaut11xx]

I suspect Dave Dickenson will be the next head coach of the Lions

[ArgoRavi]

I suspect Dave Dickenson will be the next head coach of the Lions

Not sure about that. I have heard that Dickenson's wife loves living in Calgary and isn't keen to move. On top of that, Dickenson appears to be the head coach-in-waiting in Calgary until Hufnagel decides to focus on his GM duties.

[ArgoGabe22]

I think Paul LaPolice is a strong contender. Offensive minded who would probably take over as OC as well.

[Argocister]

Not sure about that. I have heard that Dickenson's wife loves living in Calgary and isn't keen to move. On top of that, Dickenson appears to be the head coach-in-waiting in Calgary until Hufnagel decides to focus on his GM duties.

I have also read that Dickenson is the Stamps HC in training on the Stamps fan sites.

[Argo57]

I have also read that Dickenson is the Stamps HC in training on the Stamps fan sites.

Wonder if Jeff Garcia will get HC consideration somewhere soon, he seems to be getting a lot of credit for the turnaround in Montreal.

[doubleblue]

Maybe Wally comes back for a year until Benny contract is up. Braley seems to be into cost cutting. But the idea of Garcia might have some wings, I could see Wally bringing him in as OC for a year and then going to HC in 2016.

[Argocister]

Personally I don't see the ALS giving up Garcia easily ..but BC is a better location for him I believe ( isn't Garcia based in Cali somewhere?)

It's interesting that Benevides didn't do well .... Obviously it's beneficial to have a good relationship between GM and HC, which was part of the reason Benevides got the job over Chapdelaine 3 years ago. I wonder if this is more of a Wally problem.....keeping his fingers in the HC pot .... Only time will tell......at least it's not the
Argos problem.

[AngeloV]

Not many coaches that average 11 wins a year get fired. I think Wally is a control freak.

[gilthethrill]

Personally I don't see the ALS giving up Garcia easily ..but BC is a better location for him I believe ( isn't Garcia based in Cali somewhere?)

It's interesting that Benevides didn't do well .... Obviously it's beneficial to have a good relationship between GM and HC, which was part of the reason Benevides got the job over Chapdelaine 3 years ago. I wonder if this is more of a Wally problem.....keeping his fingers in the HC pot .... Only time will tell......at least it's not the
Argos problem.

With all the success Garcia had in the NFL, don't discount the idea he could wind up there as a QB coach. I don't expect to see him in Montreal next season.

[D-Gap-Willie]

Personally I don't see the ALS giving up Garcia easily ..but BC is a better location for him I believe ( isn't Garcia based in Cali somewhere?)

It's interesting that Benevides didn't do well .... Obviously it's beneficial to have a good relationship between GM and HC, which was part of the reason Benevides got the job over Chapdelaine 3 years ago. I wonder if this is more of a Wally problem.....keeping his fingers in the HC pot .... Only time will tell......at least it's not the
Argos problem.

There's a moral to that story for Wally - " Don't hire your friends ! It's too tough to fire them" Benevides should probably never have gotten the job, and Wally found it too tough to fire his buddy. So he gave him a contract extension to motivate him. Dumb move !

I look for Mark Washington to move up from DC to the Head Coach job. Turbulent time for the Leos; they also need a new starting QB. Big questions over whether Lulay will ever return to form.

[ArgoRavi]

The Winnipeg Free Press' Gary Lawless just said on TSN that Jeff Garcia considers himself ready to be a head coach. I know that Garcia's coaching experience is limited but if I were Wally I would take a chance on Garcia. The B.C. franchise seems to be in need of some rejuvenation and I think that Garcia could provide that.

[gilthethrill]

The Winnipeg Free Press' Gary Lawless just said on TSN that Jeff Garcia considers himself ready to be a head coach. I know that Garcia's coaching experience is limited but if I were Wally I would take a chance on Garcia. The B.C. franchise seems to be in need of some rejuvenation and I think that Garcia could provide that.

If Garcia does land a HC job in Canada, I doubt Montreal will be his home as I have reason to believe (according to the Als forum), owner Robert Wettenhal has already stated Tom Higgins will return in that capacity next year in Montreal.

[Argo57]

Don't think any coach can thrive in B.C. with old meddling Wally lurking in the shadows.

[argofandave]

Here's what Jeff Garcia said on TSN last week:

"At some point I would love to be in the NFL. At some point I would love to be part of a Super Bowl title team and I think that is the one thing that is missing on the mantle."

[Argo57]

Here's what Jeff Garcia said on TSN last week:

"At some point I would love to be in the NFL. At some point I would love to be part of a Super Bowl title team and I think that is the one thing that is missing on the mantle."

I'm sure he would, a prominent CFL coaching position would also help him in this regard in the future.

[ArgoGabe22]

Looks like Jeff Garcia won't be back with the Als next season, Herb reporting "family reasons". Off to the NFL I'm guessing, closer to home.

[ArgoRavi]

Looks like Jeff Garcia won't be back with the Als next season, Herb reporting "family reasons". Off to the NFL I'm guessing, closer to home.

Or to B.C. which is also much closer to home.