General Manager and Head Coach

CFL: 17th season
Stamps: 17th season

Dickenson is in his 17th season on the Stampeders coaching staff, his ninth as the team’s head coach and his third with the additional role of general manager. His regular-season record as head coach through eight seasons is 84-53-3.

Dickenson ranks third in franchise history in both games coached and victories. He owns five Grey Cup rings – three as a player and two as a coach.

His coaching career began in 2009 when he was named Calgary’s running backs coach. That season, Stampeders running back Joffrey Reynolds claimed the CFL rushing crown.

In 2010, he was named Calgary’s quarterbacks coach and Stamps pivot Henry Burris was voted the CFL’s Most Outstanding Player.

In his first season as offensive coordinator in 2011, Dickenson oversaw a Stamps offence that was among the league leaders in numerous categories. In four seasons from 2012-15 under Dickenson’s tutelage, the Stampeders offence led the CFL in cumulative points scored, finishing either first or second each year. He was part of a Grey Cup championship team in 2014.

On Dec. 1, 2015, Dickenson was named the 25th head coach in Stampeders history.

In 2016 – his first season at the helm – the Stampeders set a franchise record with 31 standings points thanks to a 15-2-1 record. The Stamps had the CFL’s highest-scoring offence as well as the stingiest defence and the team reached the Grey Cup championship game. Dickenson won the Annis Stukus Trophy as the CFL’s coach of the year.

In 2017, Dickenson was the West Division finalist for coach of the year as the Stamps finished first in the West with a 13-4-1 record and again made it to the Grey Cup game.

In 2018, Dickenson led the Stamps to their eighth Grey Cup title in franchise history as Calgary defeated the Ottawa Redblacks 27-16. The Stamps finished atop the West and advanced to the Grey Cup for a third straight season.

In 2019, the Stampeders finished second in the West Division with a record of 12-6 and earned the right to host a playoff game for a fourth consecutive year with Dickenson at the helm. The Stamps led the league with a turnover ratio of plus-15 and were the second-least penalized team in the CFL.

In 2021, the Stampeders rallied from a slow start to win six of their last seven regular-season games. The strong finish allowed the Stamps to continue their streaks of winning seasons and playoff appearances.

Calgary finished 12-6 in 2022, led the CFL with 562 points scored and ranked second in the league with 397 points allowed. Eleven Stampeders received West Division all-star nods and eight players were named CFL all-stars.

In 2023, Dickenson led the Stamps to an 18th consecutive playoff appearance. The Stamps’ run of post-season appearances was in jeopardy until back-to-back clutch victories in October – at home against Saskatchewan and on the road against BC – allowed Calgary to clinch a playoff berth.

Dickenson joined the Calgary coaching staff after an outstanding 13-year professional playing career. He spent 11 of his 13 seasons in the Canadian Football League, six of those with the Stampeders (1996-2000 and 2008).

A potent combination of intelligence, athletic ability and courage, Dickenson set a number of CFL passing records and was named the league’s Most Outstanding Player in 2000 after throwing for 4,636 yards, 36 touchdowns and only six interceptions while guiding the Stampeders to a 12-5-1 record.

After spending two seasons in the National Football League — with San Diego in 2001 and with Seattle, Miami and Detroit in 2002 — Dickenson returned to Canada and signed with the BC Lions. After five seasons with the Leos – including a 2005 campaign in which he established league records for highest completion percentage and quarterback rating in a single season and an MVP performance in the 2006 Grey Cup – Dickenson returned to Calgary in 2008 for what proved to be his final season.

Dickenson joined the Stampeders in 1996 after a stellar career at the University of Montana. He was a three-time conference MVP with the Grizzlies and in 1995 led the nation in passing while guiding Montana to the NCAA Division 1-AA national title. He was named a member of the College Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2018 and was part of the Big Sky Conference’s inaugural Hall of Fame class in 2020.

He and his wife Tammy along with children Avery and Cooper live in Calgary year-round. His coaching role extends into the off-season as he annually operates the Dickenson Passing Academy to work with young quarterbacks and receivers.

Dave Dickenson’s Coaching History

2023-present – Calgary Stampeders (CFL) – General Manager and Head Coach
2016-2022 – Calgary Stampeders (CFL) – Head Coach
2011-15 – Calgary Stampeders (CFL) – Offensive Coordinator
2010 – Calgary Stampeders (CFL) – Quarterbacks Coach
2009 – Calgary Stampeders (CFL) – Running Backs Coach