The Ottawa Redblacks named Rick Campbell, the first head coach in team history, as the new special teams coordinator on Thursday.
“Throughout our time working together, and coaching against each other, Rick has demonstrated what it means to be a leader of men,” said Redblacks Head Coach Bob Dyce. “His experience coaching all phases of the game will be a tremendous asset to our football club, and we’re extremely pleased to welcome him back to Ottawa as our Special Teams Coordinator.”
Rick Campbell is 54-years-old from Spokane, Washington. He was the B.C. Lions head coach for four seasons compiling a record of 38-30. In 2024, the Lions finished 9-9 in third place in the Western Division. They lost the Western Semi-Final to the Saskatchewan Roughriders 28-19. The Lions parted ways with Campbell on November 20, 2024. In 2022 and 2023, Campbell led the Lions to the Western Final but would lose twice to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
“Thank you to Bob Dyce and Shawn Burke for the amazing opportunity to be back with the Redblacks. It feels like coming home,” said Campbell. “Ottawa is a special place, and I’m looking forward to getting to work and competing for the Gray Cup in 2025.”
Campbell started his coaching career by spending three seasons as a Graduate assistant for the University of Oregon. Next, he was named Defensive backs and Special teams coordinator for the Edmonton Eskimos. He spent six seasons before Edmonton promoted him to defensive coordinator in 2005. He spent an additional four seasons in Edmonton winning two Grey Cup championships in 2003 and 2005.
In 2009, Campbell was named the defensive backs coach and special teams coordinator for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. The following season, he was the running backs coach for the Calgary Stampeders in 2010 and returned to Edmonton as the team’s assistant head coach and special teams coordinator in 11. Campbell would return to Calgary in 2012 spending two seasons at the team’s defensive coordinator.
In 2014, he was named the first head coach of the Ottawa Redblacks. He coached Ottawa for six seasons with a record of 44-62, winning the East Divisional title three times and led the team to three Grey Cup appearances winning the 104th Grey Cup championship in 2016 over the Calgary Stampeders. After the team went 3-15 in 2019, the team and Campbell mutually parted ways.
