The Saskatchewan Roughriders are set to hire Toronto Argonauts Defensive Coordinator Corey Mace as their new Head Coach as first reported by TSN’s Farhan Lalji. Mace had signed a contract extension with the Argonauts on October 13, 2023.
Corey Mace spent two seasons as the Argo’s defensive coordinator. In the 2023 season, Toronto led the league in sacks (68), interceptions (27), turnovers (54), opponent rush yards (83.6), and big plays allowed (30), second in offensive points allowed (20.7) and opponents yards/play (6.09), and third offensive touchdowns allowed (42).
Three of his players, Adarius Pickett, Wynton McManis, and Robertson Daniel, were named CFL All-Stars. The Argonauts finished the season with a 16-2 record but lost to the eventual champion Montreal Alouettes in the Eastern Final 38-17.
The 37-year-old from Port Moody, British Columbia, helped the Argo’s win their 18th Grey Cup championship in franchise history in 2022. In addition, he helped Charleston Hughes, Micah Johnson, Cordarro Law, and Mike Rose go on to be named Division All-Stars.
Before Toronto, Mace coached the Calgary Stampeders’ Defensive line from 2016-21 helping them win the Grey Cup in 2018. As a player, Mace was drafted by the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the second round (11th pick) of the 2007 CFL Draft.
However, he chose to sign with the Buffalo Bills as an undrafted free agent. Mace played two seasons in Buffalo with two tackles (1 solo, 1 assist) in five NFL games. In the CFL, Winnipeg traded his rights to Hamilton in 2009. A year later, Hamilton traded him to Toronto in 2010.
On August 22, 2010, The Argonauts traded Mace to the Calgary Stampeders. Mace signed a contract seven days later. He went on to play four seasons in Calgary with 44 tackles (44 solo), four sacks, two fumble recoveries, one touchdown, and one kick return for 13 yards in 40 games, of which 34 were starts. He is a member of the 2014 Calgary Grey Cup championship team.
Collegiately, Mace played two seasons at Palomar College (2003-04). In 2004, he made 12 sacks and was named All-Mission Conference Honors for the Comets.
Then, he transferred to Wyoming (2005-06) with 65 tackles (22 solo, 43 assists), 8 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, two pass breakups, and one forced fumble in 23 games for the Cowboys. He was named Second Team All-MWC in 2006.
