Riders reveal full 2024 coaching staff

Corey Mace has assembled the rest of his 2024 Saskatchewan Roughriders coaching staff.

The first-time head coach is surrounding himself with a few notable former CFL all-stars and teammates to round out the staff.

The list includes the likes of former slotback Marquay McDaniel, linebacker J.C. Sherritt, offensive lineman Edwin Harrison, and defensive back Josh Bell.

Phillip Daniels joins the staff as the defensive line coach. He is the father of Toronto Argonauts wide receiver DaVaris Daniels.

Jordan Linnen will be the team’s defensive assistant after spending two years with the Edmonton Elks as the running backs coach. Jeff Higgins will be the Riders’ special teams assistant.

Running backs coach Anthony Vitale is returning after spending last season as the team’s offensive line coach.

“I am elated to have our 2024 coaching staff in place — a group that brings hands-on experience as players and coaches alongside championship pedigrees,” Mace said in a news release.

“This staff is filled not only with excellent teachers, communicators and leaders, but also with exceptional people. I am looking forward to seeing them implement their knowledge and influence the men who will take the field for the Green and White.”

Mace will be the defensive co-ordinator for the team with Marc Mueller as the offensive co-ordinator and Kent Maugeri as the team’s special teams co-ordinator. Those hires were announced back in December.

Offensive line coach Edwin Harrison

Harrison joins the Roughriders as the offensive line coach after spending the last two seasons with the Argos, where he was the running backs coach and run game co-ordinator.

Prior to joining the Argonauts’ coaching staff, the 39-year-old was teaching geography while serving as the assistant head coach and offensive line coach at Marshall High School in Houston, Texas. Harrison played with the Stamps from 2010 to 2015 where he was Mace’s teammate. He is a two-time Grey Cup Champion – one as a player (2014) and one as a coach (2022).

Receivers coach Marquay McDaniel

After starring in the CFL, McDaniel has transitioned into a coaching role over the past few seasons. McDaniel played with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats (2009-2011, 2018) and the Stamps (2011-2017). He won a Grey Cup with Calgary in 2014. During his playing career, he hauled in 562 passes for 7,366 yards and 37 touchdowns, and was named a CFL all-star in 2013.

The Virginia Beach product accepted his first coaching job as the receivers coach for the McMaster Marauders in 2018. In 2019, he joined the Montreal Alouettes’ coaching staff before returning to Calgary in 2020.

Running backs coach Anthony Vitale

Vitale is one of only two members returning from the Green and White’s 2023 staff. Maugeri is the other. Vitale was the Riders’ offensive line coach last season.

Prior to joining the Riders, Vitale was the offensive line coach with the Edmonton Elks in 2022. He served as a guest coach at Saskatchewan’s training camp from 2017 to 2019, and previously had collegiate stints at Eastern New Mexico, Delaware State and South Baptist.

Passing game co-ordinator and defensive backs coach Josh Bell

Bell joins the Riders after spending the past three seasons with the Argos’ coaching staff.

As a player, Bell suited up for the Denver Broncos (2008-2009) and Green Bay Packers (2009-2010), winning a Super Bowl in 2010. The defensive back then joined the B.C. Lions (2012-2013) and the Stampeders (2014-2017). He was a CFL west division all-star in 2015, and won a Grey Cup as a player in 2014.

He joined the Stamps’ coaching staff in 2018 where he stayed until joining Toronto in 2021. He was a part of the coaching staff that won the 2022 Grey Cup at Mosaic Stadium.

Defensive line coach Phillip Daniels

Daniels brings four years of NFL coaching experience to Saskatchewan. He joined the Philadelphia Eagles’ coaching staff in 2016 as the assistant defensive line and quality control coach and was promoted to defensive line coach in 2019. The Donalsonville, Georgia, product capped the 2017 season with a Super Bowl win.

The former defensive lineman suited up for 201 games with the Washington Commanders, Seattle Seahawks and Chicago Bears. He registered 516 tackles, 72 tackles for a loss, 62 sacks, 47 pass knockdowns, 14 forced fumbles, 12 fumble recoveries and one interception.

Linebackers and run game co-ordinator J.C. Sherritt

The CFL’s 2012 most outstanding defensive player will handle some coaching duties with Saskatchewan this season. Sherritt returns to Canada after spending time coaching in the states. He was the Cal Poly Mustangs’ defensive co-ordinator and linebackers coach (2020-2021), spent one season at Auburn (2022) and served as a defensive analyst at Washington State in 2023. He spent the 2019 season as a member of the Stamps’ coaching staff.

During his playing career, Sherritt appeared in 109 games, all of them with Edmonton (2011-2018). He registered 528 defensive tackles, 15 sacks, 14 interceptions, and seven fumble recoveries, and won a Grey Cup Championship with Edmonton in 2015.

Defensive assistant Jordan Linnen

Linnen joins the Riders after two seasons with the Elks.

Prior to joining the professional coaching ranks, Linnen spent four seasons at Simon Fraser University ​(2018-2021), primarily as their defensive backs coach and recruiting coordinator. He was also a guest coach with the B.C. Lions in 2019 and coached with the Langley Rams of the British Columbia Football Conference in 2016.

Special teams assistant Jeff Higgins

Higgins enters the CFL with a 20-year coaching history, spending time with the Orlando Predators of the Arena League (2019, 2021-2022). Higgins was a guest coach at four CFL training camps from 2016-2019. Prior to that he spent 17 years as a head coach at the high school level in Florida and New York, including 10 years with Corinth Central School.