VANCOUVER -- Jeff Tedford has returned to the CFL.
He was named head coach of the B.C. Lions on Friday and will be formally introduced at a news conference later in the day at the team's practice facility.
Tedford, who played six seasons as a quarterback from 1983-'88 with Hamilton, Calgary, Saskatchewan, and Winnipeg, replaces Mike Benevides in the position. Benevides was fired following B.C.'s 50-17 loss to the Montreal Alouettes in the East Division semifinal.
Tedford, 53, previously worked as an assistant under Lions general manager Wally Buono in Calgary from 1989-'91.
Earlier this year, Tedford was hired to be the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' offensive co-ordinator but left the team during the pre-season to undergo a heart procedure. That ultimately resulted in the two sides mutually agreeing to end his NFL deal, making Tedford available to join the Lions.
Tedford also served as the head coach at the University of California ('02-'12) and twice was named the Pac-10's top coach, winning the conference title in 2006.
"Jeff has competed on football's biggest stages and achieved great success," Buono said in a release. "It speaks volumes about our organization and our league that a coach of Jeff's stature and appeal has chosen the Lions as his next great challenge."
B.C. finished fourth in the West Division last season with a 9-9 record. Tedford becomes the 25th head coach in franchise history.
"I am excited and honoured to be the head coach of the B.C. Lions," said Tedford. "The Canadian Football League has remained close to my heart since my days as a player and as an assistant in Calgary. Joining the Lions today is the beginning of a new chapter and I look forward to the challenge of bringing a championship to B.C.
"My thanks go out to David Braley, Dennis Skulsky and of course Wally Buono for giving me this opportunity and I can't wait to get started."
