Riders’ Mace has coaching staff in place; work continuing on 2024 roster

Corey Mace is adjusting to life — and his new responsibilities — as the Saskatchewan Roughriders’ sideline boss.

The first-year head coach is not only tasked with trying to shape the 2024 roster to get the Riders back into the playoffs, but he’s also in Nashville taking part in the CFL winter meetings.

“There’s a lot more. It’s not so much just (watching video as a coach and using the) clicker all day long; there’s a lot of other stuff that goes into it,” Mace said Monday. “(They’re) all things I have been extremely happy to do and excited to do. There hasn’t been a bad day on the job yet, so we will keep it that way.”

One of the first jobs on Mace’s plate was filling out his first coaching staff.

Mace has hired Regina product Marc Mueller to be the offensive co-ordinator while the team brought back Kent Maugeri in a special-teams role. An announcement hasn’t been made on who the positional coaches will be, but one is expected shortly.

“We have everything in place,” Mace said. “We are very happy with everyone we got on board and I am excited to share that with you guys when the time is right. We are really happy with how it all came together.”

For fans of the Green and White, the biggest questions they have involve how the team will look on the field when the 2024 season begins.

After back-to-back 6-12 seasons, change is on the way to the roster. Just how much remains to be seen.

“I don’t know what the cutoff is for a lot of change or not, but that’s the world we live in with the free agency in our league, and certainly any leagues,” Mace said. “There’s obviously going to be change, but I really stand on what I said: There’s a lot of great pieces on this roster currently and we are certainly working with a lot of guys to come to an agreement right now.

“Being a former player, I do understand that sometimes guys are motivated differently to do something that is better for their family – not even from a money standpoint. Maybe it is location or whatever. We are doing our due diligence to make sure we are reaching out to the guys and make sure we can come to an agreement.”

One of the big choices the team has already made is to release linebacker Derrick Moncrief. The six-year CFL veteran played in 14 games for Saskatchewan last season at various positions, recording 50 tackles.

“I understand what Derrick has done for the team and certainly the community; he has been outstanding and he has been a good player in this league for a long time,” Mace said. “I wish him nothing but the best and, quite honestly, it was something that we felt like we wanted to move on and look in a different direction.

“Just the kind of guy that he has been, you want to do the right thing and maybe give him a bit of a headstart before free agency starts (Feb. 13). That was important for (general manager Jeremy O’Day) and myself and everybody in the organization.

“That’s how we want to conduct business … I know he has a lasting impression with him and his family in the community and I’m certain (that) anytime he comes back, (fans) will welcome him with open arms and I hope they do.”

Part of the Riders’ ability to move on from Moncrief was the emergence of linebacker C.J. Reavis. The second-year CFLer dressed for 17 games in 2023 and recorded 59 tackles, three sacks, three forced fumbles and an interception.

Reavis, who could have become a free agent in February, signed a contract extension in December.

“The sky is the limit for C.J. He is a great player and (we’re) looking forward to him having a full year of playing,” Mace said. “I think soon enough he is going to be a household name in this league. That’s how we see it. We are looking forward to that.

“We know he’s a heck of a player and I know he is really excited to be back.”

One of the biggest things Mace is looking for in free agents is a player who wants to be in Regina.

“Guys who are in free agency, they have been in the league at least for a little bit so they understand what it is when you get to Regina, you walk into the stadium and you know the energy and know the atmosphere,” Mace said.

“Depending on what time of the year you were there, you understand what the elements are going to look like. Being in similar places, it does take a certain kind of person that loves that and I want people that love it. I love it and I look forward to people that like that.

“It takes a certain amount of grit and I want people who are absolutely excited about putting together a product that you know the fanbase is going to hold you accountable for. You have to know that you have to come with your A-game. I don’t want people who are afraid of that. I want people to embrace it.”