Courtesy Regina Leader Post:

It took three years, but the Calgary Stampeders finally got their man Monday afternoon.

After an initial overture to John Hufnagel was rebuffed in 2005 — he was a member of the New York Giants coaching staff — the 56-year-old finally rejoined a franchise with which he spent four seasons playing quarterback and seven more as the offensive co-ordinator.

And based on the way Stampeders managing partner Ted Hellard was pumping his tires during Monday’s press conference that confirmed countless reports that Hufnagel was to take over from Tom Higgins as head coach and general manager, he was worth the wait.

“It’s something we’ve dreamed of, to be honest, ever since we bought the franchise,” gushed Hellard. “It sounds corny, but he’s a dream coach for us. He’s a once-in-a-decade type of opportunity, especially in this situation, because of what he’s done here before as a player and as a coach, and the relationship he has with the community. Those opportunities just don’t come up very often.

“I can tell you, personally, it’s a lot of weight off my shoulders. I feel like it’s a brand new day today.”

Hufnagel takes over a franchise that has lost three straight West Division semifinals under Higgins, posting a 7-10-1 record in 2007.

But the Stamps were handcuffed all season by sloppy discipline that led to a league-high totals for penalties, penalty yardage and fumbles — issues Hufnagel bluntly stated would be high on his priority list for 2008 and beyond.

“One thing I am certain of,” said Hufnagel. “We will strive to eliminate what I call bad football that cursed this team last year. Somehow, someway, we will learn to play the game by the rules. We will protect the football and we will play aggressive, solid, base defence.

“If the players in this locker room can accomplish that, that’s great. If not, then some change will be needed.”

Hufnagel announced that both Jim Barker and George Cortez would be retained — Barker as director of player personnel and vice-president of football operations, and Cortez as offensive co-ordinator, associate head coach and quarterbacks coach — but was non-committal on the rest of the coaching staff.

“I have no definite timeline,” said Hufnagel. “Over the next 24-48 hours, I’m going to personally have a chat with them and evaluate things. I’m going to give them some indication, but I can’t say that my staff is going to be assembled (immediately).”

Hufnagel’s ties to the Stampeders ownership group have been well-documented in recent weeks, and one of that group, John Forzani, was a teammate of Hufnagel’s back in the day, and remembers a very focused individual.

“It was a thousand years ago, but I remember that he was all business,” said Forzani. “He was very dedicated, very intense, very much into the game, very much into the cerebral side of the game. John was a true leader. A lot of us liked to have a good time in practice, but John tended to be more business, and I think that’s going to carry through.

“When he says nobody will outwork him, nobody will outwork him. He’ll be in the office between five and six o’clock in the morning, every day. He takes it very, very seriously, and very personally.”