Ryan Dinwiddie is leaving one former Hall of Fame quarterback for another.
Sportsnet has learned that Dinwiddie, who worked with Montreal Alouettes offensive coordinator Anthony Calvillo last season, will be the quarterback coach of the Calgary Stampeders in 2016.
New Stamps head coach Dave Dickenson, inducted into the Hall in 2014, is assembling his staff and handpicked Dinwiddie to work with Bo Levi Mitchell at McMahon Stadium. Dickenson likely will be the play caller next season in his first year as a CFL head coach.
Dinwiddie was a decorated three-year starting quarterback at Boise State and rewrote the school’s record books during his time in college. He spent seven seasons as a CFL quarterback.
Sources said Dinwiddie was offered a contract with the Alouettes, who first hired him in 2013 after his playing career ended with Saskatchewan, but declined the opportunity to take the one in Calgary. In Montreal, Dinwiddie broke into the coaching ranks as a quality control coach, but was quickly elevated to offensive coordinator in 2014 following a series of firings.
It is believed Dickenson will retain most of the Stampeders coaching staff, although defensive coordinator Rich Stubler left for Toronto earlier this month. Mark Kilam has been the Stampeders special teams coach the past six seasons, and those close to the Calgary situation tell Sportsnet that Kilam is still working at the team offices.
Dinwiddie made his foray into the CFL as a player with Montreal, but became a household name in Winnipeg. He started the 2007 Grey Cup in Toronto, after Kevin Glenn went down with injury in the East Final, and took over the starting job from Glenn early the following season before getting hurt. He spent the 2010 and 2011 seasons with the Roughriders.
Sources told Sportsnet that the Ottawa Redblacks were preparing to speak with Dinwiddie if Jason Maas leaves for Edmonton to replace Jones as Eskimos head coach.
NOTES: Sportsnet has also learned the Saskatchewan Roughriders have parted ways with Craig Smith, the director of player personnel and Canadian scouting. With Chris Jones taking over as general manager and head coach, the house cleaning is underway … Bob Dyce, who was interim head coach for the final two months of the season, is also out … Jason Maas is hoping to lure Ottawa assistant coaches with him to Edmonton, to join his staff should he become the Eskimos head coach — as expected. Sources say that Redblacks management is quickly trying to lock up assistants to contract extensions (most have deals expiring Dec. 31) so they cannot leave.