Dave Jackson’s coaching career is returning to the Canadian Football League after spending time with the Regina Thunder the past couple of seasons.
The Montreal Alouettes announced their coaching staff on Tuesday. Included in the announcement was that Jackson would join the team as a special teams assistant.
The former member of the Thunder coaching staff joined Michael Ball on the SportsCage to discuss the move.
Jackson said that coaching in the professional ranks is his ultimate goal.
“Just kept at it for the last couple of years, COVID kind of got in the way in a little bit between jobs. ”
He said even during the COVID pandemic, he managed to stay busy with the Thunder with practices and workouts away from the field. Jackson said communication is a vital aspect of coaching younger football players.
“It really got you to hammer home and be concise with your language and how you teach and what your expectations are and how you show progression from a starting point to getting better ”
Jackson previously worked with Edmonton, Toronto and Saskatchewan before he joined the Thunder.
Leading the Alouettes this season is Jason Maas, who spent the last two seasons as the offensive coordinator for the Roughriders. Jackson is looking forward to working with Maas in Montreal.
“We spent three years together in Edmonton, so I got a lot of respect for coach Maas.”
The Alouettes’ ownership situation has not been settled after the Canadian Football League took control of the organization on February 14. Jackson said the ordeal is out of his hands.
“I can’t control it, is there a little bit of concern, maybe. But I know this from the coaching staff to the management staff, to the players and everybody else involved you’ve got a bunch of people with a chip on their shoulder cause they’re all going through the same thing.”
Chandler Worthy will be back in Montreal to lead the teams’ special teams unit. The returner had a breakout season in 2022 as he was named an Eastern All-Star and the East’s nominee for Most Outstanding Special Teams Player of the Year. Jackson said he’s looking forward to reuniting with Worthy, as the two spent time together in Toronto in 2019.
“Number one, he’s a great human, he’s a great person. He comes to work every single day. ”
The new Alouettes special teams assistant noted that Worthy faced plenty of adversity before he enjoyed his success last season.
“Over in Toronto I think he was cut about four times. He keeps battling back and now he finally took a spot as a returner not too mention he can compliment potentially on offence as well.”
Jackson will not be returning to Mosaic Stadium as a member of the Alouettes in 2023. The only matchup between the Roughriders and Alouettes is on August 11 in Montreal.