Head Coach Tim Burke has announced that veteran CFL coach Craig Dickenson has been hired as the team’s Special Teams Coordinator.
“I am very excited to have Craig on board with us next season,” said Burke. “Craig is regarded as one of the best special teams coaches in this league and will play a vital role in our success in the coming years. He will provide great leadership and will be able to mentor our young special teams players, kickers and punters.”
Dickenson joins the Blue Bomber coaching staff after most recently coaching the special teams with the Saskatchewan Roughriders for the past two seasons.
Prior to joining the Riders, Dickenson spent the 2010 season with the NFL’s Oakland Raiders as an assistant special teams coach. This was Dickenson’s second stint in the NFL as he spent two years in San Diego as a special teams assistant for the Chargers starting in 2000.
“I’m really looking forward to the opportunity of working with Coach Burke again in Winnipeg,” said Dickenson. “Coach Burke and I have a great relationship from working together in the past and I believe he is putting together a great staff and has a great vision for where this team is going. It will be great to start fresh in a new stadium in front of some of the league’s loudest fans.”
Highly regarded for his special teams schemes, Dickenson spent seven seasons with the Calgary Stampeders where he worked with both Coach Burke and Coach Creehan. He served as their special teams coordinator for five years after tutoring the running backs and receivers in his first two years with the team. Dickenson also spent one season with the Montreal Alouettes as their running backs coach in 2003 before returning to the Stamps.
Dickenson’s coaching career began at his alma mater, the University of Montana, in 1995 when the Grizzlies captured the NCAA Division 1-AA National Championship. His work with the kickers and running backs earned him a position with Utah State where he coached before making the move to the NFL.
