The search for a new Head Coach with the Saskatchewan Roughriders appears to be heading towards the finish line.

General Manager Jeremy O’Day wanted to have a new head coach in place by the end of the month, and with the calendar flipping over to December on Friday, it looks like O’Day has settled on two final candidates.

According to TSN’s and frequent contributor to the Sportscage, Farhan Lalji, he says the two final candidates are Toronto Argonauts defensive coordinator Corey Mace and Winnipeg Blue Bombers offensive coordinator Buck Pierce.

Lalji also said Hamilton’s Scott Milanovich was no longer in the running.

Mace became the Argos Defensive Coordinator in 2022 and helped the double blue to a Grey Cup title last season in Regina. He was the Calgary Stampeders Defensive Line coach (2016-21) prior to joining Toronto. The Port Moody, B.C. product has won three Grey Cup titles in total, one as a player (2014) and twice as a coach (2018,2022).

Pierce joined the Blue Bombers coaching staff in 2014 as their Running Backs Coach. He became the team’s Quarterbacks Coach in 2016 before ascending to the role of Offensive Coordinator in 2020. The 42-year-old spent time with the Lions and BC Lions and Blue Bombers as a Quarterback (2005-13) winning a Grey Cup in 2006 with the Lions. Pierce has won a pair of Grey Cups in Winnipeg as a coach (2019, 2021).

620 CKRM’s Michael Ball said there’s a possibility both Mace and Pierce could become Head Coaches.

We should know very soon who will be the next Head Coach of the Saskatchewan Roughriders.