The Ottawa Redblacks are set to hire Toronto Argonauts co-defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach William Fields as the new co-defensive coordinator on Sunday according to the Ottawa Citizen writer Don Brennan.
William Fields is 46 years old and is from McKeesport, Pennsylvania. In 2024, Toronto’s defense led the league in sacks (48), second in takeaways (39), second in rushing yards allowed (1,532), fourth in net offense allowed (6,514), fifth in points allowed (479), and eighth in passing yards allowed (5,342), finishing second in the East Division behind the Montreal Alouettes.
In the 111th Grey Cup, Toronto’s defense intercepted Winnipeg Blue Bombers quarterback Zach Collaros four times only allowing 202 passing yards as Toronto crushed the Blue Bombers 41-24, winning their second Grey Cup championship in three years.
Fields began his coaching career in 2010 at Cypress Christian High School as a defensive backs coach for four seasons. In 2014, he was a defensive backs coach for Simon Fraser University. He made his CFL coaching debut in 2015 as an assistant defensive backs coach for the B.C. Lions.
He also spent time with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, Montreal Alouettes, and Edmonton Elks. In 2020, he was a secondary coach for the Tampa Bay Vipers (XFL) before the league shut down due to the pandemic. Then, he spent two seasons as a defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach at Peru State College.
As a player, Fields played six seasons in the CFL for the Calgary Stampeders and Winnipeg Blue Bombers making 220 tackles, three tackles on special teams, 13 interceptions for 310 yards, 38 pass breakups, five forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries for 32 yards, and one sack in 87 games winning a Grey Cup with the Calgary Stampeders in 2001 over the Winnipeg Blue Bombers 27-19 in the 89th Grey Cup in Montreal.
Then, Fields played in the Arena Football League for the Arizona Rattlers in 2007 and the Georgia Force in 2008 making 58 tackles (40 solos, 18 assists), three interceptions for 44 yards, and 9 pass breakups. Collegiately, Fields played four seasons at Houston (1996-99) making three interceptions in 21 games for the Cougars.
