The Ottawa Redblacks named longtime CFL coach Greg Marshall as the new defensive line coach for the 2024 season on Wednesday.
“We are very excited to add Coach Marshall to our staff,” said Redblacks Head Coach Bob Dyce. “He brings a wealth of experience both as a player and a coach, and will be a definite asset to our talented defensive line group, and our coaching staff.”
Greg Marshall is a 67-year-old from Beverly, Massachusetts, who recently served as Head Coach at the University of Toronto from 2018 to 2023 compiling a record of 11-27 and an 0-2 playoff record. In 2021, he led the Varsity Blues to their first playoff appearance since 1995. In addition, Marshall spent three seasons as a defensive coordinator for Queen’s University from 2014-17. At Queen’s, his defense led the OUA Conference in 2014 with 16 fumble recoveries.
Marshall began his coaching career in 1990 as the head coach for the Ottawa Bootleggers of the Empire Football League. Then, he served as head coach for the Ottawa Sooners of the Canadian Junior Football League for three seasons.
Marshall is no stranger to the CFL having spent 20 years in coaching. He began his coaching career in 1994 as defensive line coach of the Saskatchewan Roughriders before adding the defensive coordinator title in 1996. He spent six seasons in Saskatchewan before taking the same positions this time for the Edmonton Eskimos from 2000-04.
In 2005, he returned to Ottawa as the assistant head coach and defensive coordinator for the Ottawa Renegades. After the Renegades suspended operations, Marshall went to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers as their defensive line coach and defensive co-coordinator from 2006-08.
Next, he went to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in 2009, working as an assistant head coach, defensive coordinator, and linebackers coach until 2010. In 2011, Marshall was named the head coach of the Saskatchewan Roughriders. However, the Roughriders went 1-7 before he was fired on August 19, 2011. His final season as a coach in the CFL was in 2013 with the Edmonton Eskimos as a defensive coordinator.
As a player, Marshall was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the seventh round (186th pick) of the 1978 NFL Draft. He played two seasons with both the Eagles and the Baltimore Colts. Then, Marshall played for the Ottawa Rough Riders from 1980 until 1988. During his time in Ottawa, Marshall made 71 sacks, 12 fumble recoveries, and one touchdown in 120 games.
He was named a four-time CFL East All-Star, a two-time CFL All-Star, and was named the CFL’s Most Outstanding Defensive Player Award in 1983. He was inducted into the RNation Legacy Wall at TD Place in 2023.
