Courtesy Regina Leader Post:

Saskatchewan Roughriders defensive co-ordinator Richie Hall is just like everybody else — he’s waiting for the Montreal Alouettes to hire a head coach.

“It’s kind of like going through training camp,” Hall said Tuesday. “You do your best and let the coaches make the decision.”

Hall was interviewed one week ago in Montreal by Alouettes general manager Jim Popp, president Larry Smith and owner Bob Wetenhall. The Alouettes are expected to make their decision within a week and Hall, whose defensive unit led the Roughriders to a 23-19 victory over the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the Nov. 25 Grey Cup, is among the candidates.

“They said they would get back to me,” Hall said. “It’s always exciting to get an opportunity, to be wanted, to be considered for the ultimate opportunity of being a head coach. Whatever happens, it was a positive experience.”

Popp, who has been Montreal’s general manager since the Alouettes rejoined the CFL in 1996, replaced Don Matthews as the Alouettes’ head coach late in the 2006 season. Popp retained the job in 2007, when the Alouettes posted their first losing season (8-10) and were eliminated in the East semifinal when they twice couldn’t convert a third-and-one situation during a 24-22 loss to the home-town Blue Bombers. Smith announced two weeks ago that Popp would not be retaining his coaching duties.

“They’ve got a good football team,” said Hall. “Let’s not forget, they were half a yard from being in the East final and they’re only one year from being in the Grey Cup.

“This is not a rebuilding situation. It’s different from 2000, when Danny Barrett (was hired as Saskatchewan’s head coach) and we had been 3-15 the year before.”

Toronto offensive co-ordinator Steve Buratto and ex-Alouettes coach Charlie Taaffe, whose future is uncertain as Hamilton’s head coach, are the leading candidates. Another former Alouettes head coach, Bob Price, who has been working at the University of Virginia, and former Calgary Stampeders and Edmonton Eskimos head coach Tom Higgins are also being considered. So are Winnipeg defensive co-ordinator Greg Marshall, Montreal defensive co-ordinator Chris Jones and Alouettes offensive co-ordinator Marcel Bellefeuille, who used to be Saskatchewan’s offensive co-ordinator.

Wetenhall said the Alouettes plan to conduct second interviews with their top choices.

Hall has been a Roughriders assistant for 14 years. He has one year remaining on his contract, but Riders head coach Kent Austin and general manager Eric Tillman said Saskatchewan’s assistant coaches are welcome to seek better jobs. Hall said he has spoken to several coaches about their interest in joining the Alouettes as assistant coaches.

“There are some coaches who are employed and looking for work, some who aren’t employed and are looking for work and some who aren’t looking for work,” said Hall. “I couldn’t promise anything. I just wanted to see if they were interested. I can’t promise anything because I don’t know what’s going to happen.