Paul LaPolice jumps at chance to rejoin Bombers

The first question aboutPaul LaPolice was blunt and it probablystung a little, but it was far from unexpected.

How is a guy who was twice fired by the Winnipeg Blue Bombersnow seen as the answer to that same team's troubles? The simple answer, from bothLaPolice and head coach Mike O'Shea,was that things have changed, time has passed and more experience has been gained.

"That's part of professional sports you get fired. It's just part of the business," said LaPolice, who was introduced Tuesday as the Bombers' new offensive co-ordinator."That's the past. I've moved on and grown."

"Basically, from that time, everything's changed," O'Shea added, referring to the Bombers' brass being shuffled since LaPolice was last on the Bomber sidelines.

LaPolice has spent much of the past three years, since being fired as the Bombers' coach, taking in professional development, working as a CFL game analyst, and helping out the Toronto Argonauts' coaching staff.

The 45-year-old LaPolice has 20-plus years of coaching experience at different levels of football, with a good chunk of that in the CFL.That'svaluable experience that can't be ignored, norcan his passion and thirst for knowledge, O'Shea said.

"When you talk football with Paul LaPolice, you're learning," he said.

• Winnipeg Blue Bombers sign Paul LaPolice as new offensive co-ordinator
• Blue Bombers cut ties with Marcel Bellefeuille

WhenO'Sheagot the head coaching job with the Bombers in 2014 hewas interested in hiringLaPolice, but LaPolice wasn't in a position to take that on just yet.

"He's bringing some good, fresh ideas that the players will enjoy,"O'Sheasaid, adding that he andLaPolicewill soon sit down to talk about the status of the rest of the team'soffensive staff

LaPolicesaid he had aninterview scheduled with another CFL team for later this week but called it off as soon as the Bombers offered the job.

RAW: Paul LaPolice signs new contract

9 years ago

Duration 0:22

Winnipeg Blue Bombers new offensive co-ordinator Paul LaPolice signs his contract with head coach Mike O'Shea

"I believe in what's happening here," he said."I believe in the people in this organization."

Listing offthe reasons he wanted to be part of the Bombers,LaPoliceincluded:

• A "good young quarterback with a lot of potential" in DrewWilly.
• A "beautifulfacility" that didn't exist when he was last with the team.
• A "great fan base" in a city where people care about football. He,his wife and their childrenstill live in the city.

LaPolicesaid he also feels he and the club's bossesO'Shea,GMKyle Walters, president and CEO Wade Miller share "the same voice, the same message" about the direction of the team.

He also coached Miller for two years in Winnipeg and "I know what he's all about,"LaPolicesaid.

Asked if he would like to eventually be a head coach again,LaPolicedidn't hesitate to say "yes."

Helast coachedin the CFL from 2010-12 as head coach of the Bombers, leading the team to a 2011 Grey Cup berth, while beingnamed a finalist for the CFL coach of the year.

LaPolicereplaces Marcel Bellefeuille, whose contract was not been renewed by the Bombers. The Bombers' offence sputtered last year and wasamong the league's worst in defending against the sack.

LaPolice said he intends to work on taking pressure off his QB and will evaluate the entire offence to determine how to do that.

During two seasons with the Bombers in2002 and2003 asoffensiveco-ordinatorand quarterbacks coach, the LaPolice-ledoffence broke14 franchise records.

He also coached running backs with the Toronto Argonauts and Hamilton Tiger-Cats throughout his CFL coaching career but has been working as a CFL broadcaster since 2012.

That's one more reason he said he's pleased to make the jump back into coaching: "I'm happy to not wear makeup anymore," LaPolice said.

Lifting the gag?

O'Shea, who has a rule that prohibits assistant coaches from speaking with the media, was asked if that would also be among the changes being made for next season.

He is currently the only one allowed to comment to reporters.

"I appreciate everybody's objection to the policy we have now," O'Shea said with a grin, adding the team will review it and see if "we come up with the answers you guys might like to hear or not."

LaPolice, who is a seasoned communicator, both as head coach and broadcaster, was asked if he would like to be accessible to the media.

He wasn't willing to rock the new boat.

"I'd like to do what the head coach wants," he said.

"It's up to Mike."