Photo courtesy: Bob Butrym/RFB Sport Photography
The Ottawa Redblacks have hired Ryan Dinwiddie as the team’s head coach and general manager, signing him to a three-year contract through the 2028 CFL season.
“Ryan is a proven winner, with a track record of developing players and leading successful teams. His vision, leadership and competitiveness make him the right person to partner with Shawn Burke in leading our football club,” team president Adrian Sciarra said in a statement.
The 44-year-old spent the last five seasons head coach with the Toronto Argonauts, producing a 51-35 win-loss record in the regular-season. The Double Blue finished first in the East Division standings three times during Dinwiddie’s tenure and won two Grey Cups.
“This is a proud organization with passionate fans and a strong foundation to build on,” Dinwiddie said in a statement. “I’m looking forward to working with Shawn to build our football club and to create a winning culture here in the nation’s capital with the goal of bringing sustained success and a Grey Cup back to Ottawa.”
Shawn Burke, Ottawa’s former general manager, will remain with the team as vice-president, football operations. He has also signed an extension through 2028.
“Ryan brings a tremendous football mind and a competitive drive that fits perfectly with what we want in Ottawa,” Burke said in a statement. “He’s shown he can get the most out of his players and staff and we’re confident his experience will have an immediate impact on our organization.”
The Redblacks fired head coach Bob Dyce late in October after the team finished last in the East Division standings with a 4-14 record. Ottawa went 18-39-1 in a little over three years with Dyce at the helm, an arrangement that started on an interim basis after Paul LaPolice was fired.
The Redblacks missed the playoffs for the fifth time in the last six seasons. Dru Brown went 2-7 over nine starts at quarterback, throwing for 2,389 yards, 14 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions. Dustin Crum went 2-4 over six starts, throwing for 1,771 yards, six touchdowns, and two interceptions.
Ottawa ranked sixth in net offence, fifth in net defence, and ninth with a turnover differential of minus-16. The team’s leading rusher was William Stanback with 698 yards, leading receiver was Justin Hardy with 1,019 yards, and leading tackler was Adarius Pickett with 84 tackles. Ottawa finished eighth in attendance with average crowds of 18,136, which was a 4.2 percent decrease from the previous year.