Ottawa RedBlacks name Rick Campbell head coach

The Ottawa RedBlacks have named Calgary Stampeders defensive co-ordinator Rick Campbell their first-ever head coach.

Campbell is a 15-year CFL coaching veteran but the Ottawa appointment would be his first as a head coach.Ottawa is scheduled to return to theCFLin 2014.

The son of legendary Edmonton Eskimos head coach and executive Hugh Campbell, Rick Campbell has spent three seasons on Calgary's coaching staff, the last two as the club's defensiveco-ordinator.

Rick is a coach who earned this opportunity, said RedBlacksgeneral manager Marcel Desjardins in a team news release.

(He)did it right, learning his craft from some very good football men and Im delighted to welcome him to the RedBlacks organization.

"Right now my top priority is to help (the front office) prepare for the expansion draft and a very busy off-season," Campbell said in thenews release.

"After that, its creating an environment for players and other coaches thats all about football, establishing our team identity and winning games.

RedBlacksowner Jeff HunttoldOttawa Morninghost HallieCotnamlast week the team would have a head coach in place by theCFLsexpansion draft on Dec. 16.

Desjardins and his front officehave been busy signing players before that expansion draft, which will allow them to pluck players from the leagues other eight teams.

Those five players include running back Jordan Charles from the NCAAs Charleston Golden Eagles, who set Division II records for rushing yards in a half in his final game with 273.

He was cut from the Kansas City Chiefs training camp earlier this year.

TheRedBlacksare scheduled to make theirCFLdebut when the season starts in June, playing out of ayet-to-be-named stadiumat a renovatedLansdownePark.