Paul LaPolice.

BY ARASH MADANI
sportsnet.ca

Paul LaPolice, the Saskatchewan Rougriders offensive coordinator who has spent a decade as an assistant in the CFL, has accepted the job offer to be the next head coach of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, sportsnet.ca has learned.

A press conference will be held Friday in Winnipeg to announce LaPolice as the franchise's 28th head coach. LaPolice was offered the position Wednesday and informed the organization he would take the job late Thursday morning.

New Blue Bombers general manager Joe Mack hired LaPolice over Hamilton Tiger-Cats defensive coordinator Greg Marshall, who was interviewed by the veteran football executive for three hours on Tuesday in Toronto. LaPolice first interviewed with Mack for over an hour last month at the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Alabama.

LaPolice directed Winnipeg's offence in 2002 and 2003 before moving on to Hamilton in the same role for the next two seasons.

Breaking into the league in 2000 with the Toronto Argonauts, LaPolice spent seven years coaching at four U.S. colleges after a playing career at Plymouth State College.

LaPolice's stock grew after a terrific play calling job in last November's Grey Cup, where he is infamously known for his reaction - slamming his hat with cameras rolling in the coordinators' booth after Saskatchewan took a too-many-men penalty in the title game's deciding play, giving Montreal a second opportunity to convert the winning field goal to with the 2009 title game.

NOTE: Saskatchewan Roughriders defensive end Stevie Baggs, whose 12 sacks were tied with BC's Ricky Foley for most in the CFL last season, has signed a one-year contract with the Arizona Cardinals. It is expected the Cardinals will use the former Winnipeg Blue Bomber and Edmonton Eskimo pass rusher as a linebacker.