Today, the Calgary Stampeder Football Club announced that Special Teams Coordinator Craig Dickenson, Defensive Line Coach Casey Creehan and Secondary Coach Tim Burke will all be returning for the 2006 season.
Craig re-signs with the Stampeders after overseeing the team's special teams unit this past year.
“Craig did an outstanding job this past year with our special teams giving us great field position on a game by game basis,” stated Senior Vice President of Football Operations/Head Coach Tom Higgins. “Having him back ensures more continuity on and off the field and enables us to be a step ahead when we kick off the 2006 season.”
Defensive Line Coach Casey Creehan will be entering his third straight season as the Stampeders' Defensive Line Coach while Tim Burke will be entering his second as the team's Secondary Coach.
“I am very pleased to be working with both these individuals,” said Associate Head Coach/Defensive Coordinator Denny Creehan. “This past year both of them made a great contribution to game plans throughout the season and they both deserve a great deal of credit for the success we were able to achieve on defence.“
Below is a closer look at the Stampeder Assistant Coaches:
CRAIG DICKENSON SPECIAL TEAMS COORDINATOR CFL: Entering 5TH Season Stampeders: Entering 4TH Season
Craig returns to the Stampeders for the 3rd season in a row after a short stint with the Montreal Alouettes in 2003 as their Running Back Coach. Craig originally joined the Stampeders in 2002 as an offensive assistant/receivers coach.
In 2005 Craig oversaw the team's special teams unit and helped groom the kicking game to one of the best in the CFL with two Canadian rookies. Under Dickenson kicker Sandro DeAngelis had an outstanding season recording the best field goal percentage in the CFL (76.9%) and punter Burke Dales continued to improve throughout the season finishing with a 44.3 punting average. The team also finished the season first in field goals (40).
In 2004 Craig spent the majority of his time coaching the Stampeder receiving and running back core and overseeing the passing game. Craig spent much of his time working closely with a list of players that included the 2004 CFL Rookie of the Year Nik Lewis. Nik finished the season with 72 catches for 1045 yards and 8 touchdowns which were all team highs. He also worked with Running backs Joffrey Reynolds and Ronnie Jenkins.
In 2003 Craig joined the Montreal Alouettes coaching their running backs and assisting with the club's special teams. The Alouettes finished the season with an impressive 13-5 record and advanced to the Grey Cup.
During the 2002 season Dickenson oversaw the receiving crew, working hands on with a group that included Travis Moore, Kamau Peterson, Don Blair and Wane McGarity. Moore led the group finishing 3rd in the league in receiving yards with 1108 yards on 70 receptions. As an offensive assistant Craig can also take some credit for Kelvin Anderson reaching his 6th consecutive 1,000 yard rushing season. Anderson finished the season with 1074 yards on 221 carries.
In September of 2000, Dickenson joined Mike Riley with the San Diego Chargers for two seasons where he was the Chargers offense and special team's assistant. Dickenson joined the Chargers from Utah State University where he was the running backs and kickers coach. Prior to his stint at Utah State University, Craig coached at the University of Montana. During his tenure at Montana he coached the running backs and kickers, as the Grizzlies captured the NCAA Division 1-AA National Championships in 1995.
At Montana, Dickenson oversaw the development of running back Josh Branen. Branen finished his college career as the Grizzlies number three rusher in school history.
As a player Dickenson lettered at Montana as a place-kicker and punter. In 1991 and 1992 he earned All-Big Sky Conference academic honours, graduating in 1995 with a degree in history. He later earned a master's degree in educational leadership in 1997.
Craig's family consists of parents Bob and Sue, twin sister Amy and brother Dave. Dave is currently playing Quarterback with the B.C. Lions.
CASEY CREEHAN DEFENSIVE LINE COACH CFL: Entering 3RD Season Stampeders: Entering 3RD Season
Casey is entering his 3rd season as a coach with the Calgary Stampeders. He joined the Stamps in 2004 as a guest coach and was added to the staff near the end of training camp.
In 2005 Casey oversaw the Stampeders defensive line that was a big part of the Stampeders leading the league in quarterback sacks (47). Under Casey's tutelage Defensive Lineman Sheldon Napastuk finished the season with eight quarterback sacks (career high, tied for team lead), 26 defensive tackles and one forced fumble. Napastuk was also named to the Western All-Star team for the first time in his career. Defensive Lineman Rahim Abdullah recorded eight quarterback sacks (tied career high and team lead), five pass knockdowns and three tackles for a loss.
In 2004 the defensive unit finished among the CFL elite in several defensive categories. They finished the season second in fewest yards total offence (6,095), average yards offence per game (339), average gain per rush (4.8), fewest yards net passing (4,758), and average yards passing per game (264.3). The team was also third in interceptions (24) and first in interception return yards (579) which resulted in five touchdowns. On the defensive line Sheldon Napastuk had a career year recording a season high in defensive tackles (34), tackles for a loss (7) and pass knock downs (4).
Before he landed in Calgary, Casey coached Defensive Ends and Special Teams at James Madison University starting in 2003. During his short time at James Madison, Casey coached 1st Team Atlantic 10 Conference, All-American Defensive End, and 1-AA All-Star Game Participant. (Jerame Southern). From March of 2001 to March of 2003 Casey was the Linebacker and Special Teams Coach as well as the Strength and Conditioning Coach at Clarion University.
In 2002 Casey's special teams blocked 12 kicks, decreased the defensive statistical totals in every category, increased the linebacker's production in every defensive category, reduced the opponents' average kickoff return by 50% and coached several All-Conference Linebackers. In 2001, the special teams blocked 7 punts and led the league in punt coverage.
From June of 2000 to March 2001 Casey coached Tight Ends at Southern Illinois University. During his time he recruited from the Pennsylvania area and also assisted with the strength and conditioning of the players.
From February 2000 to June 2000 Casey coached Wide Receivers and Tight Ends at Clarion University.
Previous to Clarion Casey spent some time at Lehigh University, from 1999 to February of 2000, as a Defensive Assistant. This team had a very successful season winning the Patriot League Championship and participating in the NCAA I-AA National Playoff Tournament.
Casey has also been a guest coach at Scarlet Knight Passing Camp, Rutgers University (1999 & 2000), Duke Blue-Devil Football Camp, Duke University (2001 & 2002), Al Groh Football Camp, University of Virginia (2003). As for Collegiate Athletic Accomplishments; Casey was a captain of the 1998 Presidents Athletic Conference Championship Football Team, All Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference (1998), two-time All Presidents Athletic Conference Linebacker (1997 and 1998), set school record for most tackles in a season (126) in 1998, was named the 1997 defensive player of the year, and led the team to two consecutive President's Athletic Conference Championships and the schools first post-season appearance in 1997.
Casey received a Bachelor of Arts (Political Science) from Grove City College in Grove City, Pennsylvania and will graduate with a Masters of Science (Health and Physical Education) in May of 2006 at Emporia State University in Kansas.
TIM BURKE SECONDARY COACH CFL: Entering 2ND Season Stampeders: Entering 2nd Season
Tim enters his second season as the Stampeders Secondary Coach. This past season Tim not only had to familiarize himself to the nuances of the Canadian game but also bring together a secondary that were new to each other and new to the CFL. Despite various injuries in the secondary Tim was able to put players in a position to be successful and compete as one of the best units in the CFL. The secondary was a major part of the Stampeders finishing first in most interception return yards (604) and third in most interceptions (24).
Under Burke Safety Trey Young in his rookie season, led the team in interceptions with four. He also recorded 16 special team tackles (2nd on team), 48 defensive tackles, 16 special teams' tackles, three forced fumbles (2nd on team) and one pass knock down. Defensive Back Jermaine Chatman in his rookie season was second in interceptions with 3. He also recorded six pass knockdowns (3rd on team), 46 defensive tackles, six special team tackles and one tackle for a loss.
In 2004 Tim was the Defensive Coordinator/Defensive Backs Coach with Indiana State University. In the previous season Tim coached at the University of Tennessee – Chattanooga as the teams Defensive Coordinator/Secondary Coach. Prior to working at Chattanooga, Burke worked for two seasons at Kansas were he coached the Jayhawk defensive backs in 2000, before coaching the defensive line in 2001.
Burke also was the defensive backs coach at Purdue, where he worked for four seasons at the West Lafayette, Ind., school. While with the Boilermakers, the secondary turned into a significant weapon, allowing just 193.7 yards per game in 1998 and intercepted 23 passes in 1997 (the second most in Purdue school history).Previously, Burke spent two years at Wyoming, where he also coached the secondary. His 1995 unit led the WAC and ranked 32nd in the country in pass defence. In 1996, he coached strong safety Brian Lee, who set a school record and ranked second nationally with eight interceptions, including three in one game.
Burke was also secondary coach from 1989-94 and defensive coordinator from 1992-94 for the Ball State Cardinals. While at BSU, he helped the cards win MAC Championships in 1989 and 1993 with berths in the California Raisin and Las Vegas Bowls, respectively. BSU was the MAC's winningest team during the six years that Burke was at the Muncie school. Burke also was the Defensive Coordinator/Secondary Coach at North Dakota from 1986-88 and held a similar post at South Dakota from 1982-85.
A 1977 graduate of Luther College, he also had been an assistant coach at Appalachian State (1981), Gardnerwebb (1980) and Minnesota (1977-79). A native of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Tim has two sons, Kelly and Evan.