Menu
January 17, 2012

Stamps announce offence and special teams staff

Calgary Stampeders head coach and general manager John Hufnagel is pleased to announce his offensive and special teams coaching staff for the 2012 season.

>> Audio: Coach Huff comments

Dave Dickenson will return as the team’s offensive coordinator. Dickenson oversaw a Stamps offence that was tied for second in points scored in 2011 with 511. Calgary also had the second most first downs (402) and finished second in net yards of offence (6,954) and net yards of rushing (2,244). Dickenson enters his fourth season of coaching with the Stamps, starting in 2009 as the running backs coach and then as quarterbacks coach in 2010. This followed Dickenson’s storied 13-year playing career in which he spent 11 seasons in the CFL, six of those with Calgary.

>> Audio: Dickenson comments

Mark Kilam returns for his eighth season with the Stamps and third as special teams coordinator. In 2011, Kilam coached rookie Rene Paredes as the kicker finished fifth in kicking points with 158. Kilam also oversaw a rejuvenated Stamps return team led by Larry Taylor, who finished fourth in combined yards (1,984), third in punt-return yards (538), second in kickoff-return yards (1,008) and first in missed-field goal return yards (232). Prior to his time as special teams coordinator, Kilam served as linebackers coach and strength and conditioning coach for the Stampeders.

Mike Gibson will be the Stamps’ offensive line coach. In 2011, Gibson was the team’s running backs coach, helping the club finish second in rushing yards. Gibson worked with Jon Cornish, Joffrey Reynolds and LaMarcus Coker, among others, as the club established a solid ground game throughout the year. Gibson enters his second season with the Stamps and ninth overall in the CFL. He spent two seasons as offensive coordinator with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and was also the team’s running backs coach. Gibson also spent two seasons with the Saskatchewan Roughriders (assistant head coach and offensive line coach) and three seasons with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers (offensive coordinator and offensive line coach).

Pete Costanza returns for his fifth season as the Stamps’ receivers coach. In 2011, Costanza coached a Stamps receiving core led by Nik Lewis, who was named a CFL All-Star and was the team’s nominee for Most Outstanding Player. Costanza also groomed Calgary’s young receivers, including Johnny Forzani, who had a breakout season in 2011, Landan Talley and Anthony Parker. Prior to his time with the Stamps, Costanza was head coach of the Albany Conquest in Arena Football League 2. He led that team for four seasons and spent a total of seven seasons in af2.

Brent Monson returns for his fourth season with the Stamps, this time as the running backs coach. Monson was defensive line/strength and conditioning coach in 2011 and, in 2010 and 2009, was the team’s linebackers and strength and conditioning coach. Prior to joining the Stamps, Monson coached in the amateur ranks, serving as special teams coordinator, defensive backs and strength and conditioning coach for the Steel City Ironmen of the Ontario Varsity Football League for two seasons. He also spent four seasons as special teams, defensive backs and strength and conditioning coach for Bishop Tonnos Catholic Secondary School in Hamilton.