As many expected, the Victors cleaned house after their team crashed and burned in a miserable 4-10 season. GM Everett Henderson, who had been in the position since 1961 was let go. Owner Sammy Kirkdale was thankful for his work, but knew that a change was needed, as this was not the first time that Henderson’s job had been considered in jeopardy. Kirkdale liked the consistency of Henderson and he aimed to hire a younger GM that could be sustained just like Henderson. Ultimately, through links in Long Island, he was set onto the path of Pete Laird. Laird has been an understudy of Owner/GM Wayne Tillman for the last while. Tillman spoke highly of the bright King’s University graduate and thinks he has a future as a GM in the league. However, he also believes he needs more time. Kirkdale didn’t seem deterred by the warning and hired Laird anyway, giving the 33-year-old his first GM job.
Laird would get right to work on hiring an entirely new coaching staff. His target would be the close-to-home picks, hiring Raiders’ DC Theo Espinoza to be his new Head Coach. Espinoza had been pinned to be a future HC as well, but with HC Levi Bray getting the extension in Long Island, his path there was becoming less apparent. Espinoza is a defensive tactician who should bring stability to a younger but still solid Victors' defence. For coordinators, Espinoza would also hired out of the Raiders’ system. At OC, he would bring on Raiders’ OC Benny Schwartz, who was not going to remain with the Raiders anyway. A developmental coach, who has worked with Espinoza over the last 3 seasons. Then at DC, they would hire Raiders DB/S Coach and former NAAF DPOY Alexander Bradley. Bradley has also been working under Espinoza in recent years in Long Island.
HALIFAX MARINERS
HC Ben McMillan’s name has floated around in the last year or two if he is going to keep coaching the rebuilding Mariners. Finally, the question was answered as he has elected to step away from the coaching duties and take on a front-office role moving forward. To replace the veteran coach, the Mariners initially interviewed both their OC Charlie Shepard and DC William Jennings but decided not to promote either. Both still were signed to extensions in their current positions. Instead, the team would bring on Victors’ OC Alfred Deniau as the new Head Coach. Deniau previously was Halifax’s OC during their McCallister Cup win in 1968, which led to him getting his first Head Coaching role in Montreal shortly after. Deniau only lasted 2 years with the Rouge, but the GM Anthony Vigneault has faith in Deniau and that a familiar place with familiar players will help him this time around.
BUFFALO BLUE WINGS
The Blue Wings haven’t been as satisfied over the last two seasons since GM Reginald McMahon took a new job with the Toronto Steelheads. Under Earnest Bryan, the team hasn’t been as dominant. Injuries have certainly played a factor, but the conservative GM does take some of the blame with roster depth being a common issue. The team has elected to make a change, promoting Hall of Fame OL Casey York from the scouting department to be the new GM. York has been in the wings in Buffalo for a bit and now has the chance to get in the driver's seat and try to steer his former team back into dominance.
HC Maurice Evanson also elected to make some changes in the staff after OC Paul McMahon retired. He would promote OL Coach Jean Mathieu-Baptiste to be the new OC. Mathieu-Baptiste is also a Hall of Fame OL for the Blue Wings and has been working in the coaching staff since he retired from playing. Mathieu-Baptiste does have a run-heavy approach to the offence so expect some of the load to be taken off of QB Charles Lemieux. Evanson also decided to change it up at DC, letting go of Maurice Sawyer, and hiring Matthew Carson. Carson has previously spent 9 seasons with the Royals as their DC and has been coaching in Rideau up until 1968 when he was let go by the school. Carson is an older coach but has shown good ability when it comes to working with a more barebones defence which Buffalo has trended towards in the past couple of seasons.
LONG ISLAND RAIDERS
HC Levi Bray was given an extension to start the offseason, despite that, he knows the team needs to be better after missing the playoffs in back-to-back seasons. The first change is at OC with Benny Schwartz being let go. In to replace him is Louis Jonsson, who had a stint as Montreal’s OC recently. Jonsson is a more developmental coach, and Bray hopes he can work with QB Ivan Sanchez about cleaning up the interceptions, which he led the league in this season.
Bray didn’t intend to change it up at DC, but with Theo Espinoza being poached by Pete Laird and the Victors, he was forced to bring on a new face. He would turn to Maurice Sawyer for the job bringing him on after being replaced in Buffalo. Sawyer’s specialty is the blitz and Bray hopes the team can bring back their dangerous defence moving forward.
PITTSBURGH BLACKSMITHS
DC Arnold Baker would retire from professional coaching following the conclusion of the 1972 season, leaving Pittsburgh without a DC. They would go out and hire Colton Forrest who had been let go by the Victors in their house cleaning. Forrest has a specialty with pass defence, running some more experimental coverages. He wasn’t able to fully utilize his strategy in Indiana with the younger secondary, but with Pittsburgh’s stronger group, he should be able to show what he can do.
MONTREAL ROUGE
After a disappointing season following a McCallister Cup appearance, GM Jon Neal pushed HC Malachi Knowles to make some changes. Knowles went out and looked at a few options both at OC and DC. Knowles would have to part ways with longtime friend and coworker, DC Carroll Moss, who just wasn’t getting the most out of a strong Montreal defence. To replace him, he would bring on former Victors’ HC Urick Wilkins. The two also have a history with Wilkins hiring Knowles after he was fired from Louisville in 1970. Wilkins should be a stronger DC and can provide Knowles with more support as a HC with his 9 total seasons as one. Knowles would also look at a couple of options at OC, Benny Schwartz and Louis Jonsson were in consideration, but both signed elsewhere, so the team decided to just extend current OC Andrew Glover, who has still been a good development coach for some of the young stars on the team.
REGINA WHEAT KINGS
The Wheat Kings entered year 2 with their new GM Aaron Thornton. The team looked to improve again after bringing on OC Ben Flemming last offseason. This season, they are hoping to upgrade the DC position, letting go of Ralph Hanson. They would land Thunder LB Coach Jerome Morris for the job. Morris has a rough history as a DC, having not lasted more than 2 seasons in any position he has held. Still, after 6 years of working smaller coaching jobs, he will get an opportunity to prove himself with Regina. Morris is best at development, which Regina hopes he can provide given their young draft picks in DL Butcher Callahan and LB Lewis Vander being keys to their future success.
CHANGES OVERVIEW
Buffalo Blue Wings
OUT
GM Earnest Bryan - Fired
OC Paul McMahon - Retired
DC Maurice Sawyer - Fired; Hired by LI
IN
GM Casey York - Buffalo Scouting Department
OC Jean Mathieu-Baptiste - Promoted from OL Coach
DC Matthew Carson - Free Agent (was with Rideau)
Halifax Mariners
OUT
HC Ben McMillan - Stepping Away from HC duties, Front Office Position
IN
HC Alfred Deniau - From IND OC
Indiana Victors
OUT
GM Everett Henderson - Fired
HC Urick Wilkins - Fired; Hired by MTL
OC Alfred Deniau - Hired by HFX
DC Colton Forrest - Fired; Hired by PIT
IN
GM Pete Laird - From LI Front Office
HC Theo Espinoza - From LI DC
OC Benny Schwartz - From LI OC
DC Alexander Bradley - From LI DB/S Coach
Long Island Raiders
OUT
OC Benny Schwartz - Fired; Hired by IND
DC Theo Espinoza - Hired by IND
IN
OC Louis Jonsson - From St-Laurent OC
DC Maurice Sawyer - From BUF DC
Montreal Rouge
OUT
DC Carroll Moss - Fired
IN
DC Urick Wilkins - From IND HC
Pittsburgh Blacksmiths
OUT
DC Arnold Baker - Retired
IN
DC Colton Forrest - From IND DC
Regina Wheat Kings
OUT
DC Ralph Hanson - Fired
IN
DC Jerome Morris - from LOU LB Coach
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