James Stanley
Director of Football Analytics and Linebacker Coach
James Stanley will be entering his seventh season with the Bombers in 2024 after first joining the club as a defensive assistant and linebackers coach in 2018.
He was promoted to Director of Football Analytics and Linebacker Coach in January 2022.
Stanley has played an important role in the Bombers defensive success over the past five seasons, as he was part of the staff that devised the game plan for the team’s successful championship runs in both 2021 and 2019, followed by berth in four consecutive Grey Cup games from 2019-23.
The Blue Bombers ‘Dark Side’ defence has been especially dominant in the last three seasons with the linebacking corps playing a significant role. Stanley, working along with defensive coordinator Richie Hall, ensured that the entire linebacking corps got defensive snaps over the last three years and in 2021 middle linebacker Adam Bighill was named the CFL’s Most Outstanding Defensive Player for a third time in his career and his second as a member of the Blue Bombers.
Winnipeg’s stingy defence has surrendered the fewest points over the last three seasons, including just 20.9 points per game in 2023. The Blue Bombers also ranked first in yards surrendered per game (298.8) last year, in yards passing per game (229.4) and third in rushing yards allowed (90.4).
Prior to coming aboard with the Bombers, Stanley spent five seasons with Hamilton as defensive backs coach.During his time with the Tiger-Cats, Stanley coached multiple defensive backs to CFL All-Star status, including Delvin Breaux in 2014, and Emanuel Davis and Craig Butler in 2015.
Previously, Stanley helped the Toronto Argonauts capture the 100th Grey Cup Championship in 2012 while serving as linebackers. He began his CFL coaching career as a defensive assistant with the Calgary Stampeders in 2011, working specifically with the secondary.
In 2010, Stanley was a special-teams quality control and defensive assistant coach with the United Football League’s Hartford Colonials, while later serving as a defensive coaching intern with the Cleveland Browns of the NFL. He also spent part of the 2009 season as a special teams and secondary intern coach with the NFL’s Detroit Lions.