Regina Rams name Mike Gibson new head coach

The University of Regina Rams have named a new head coach to lead the charge.

Mike Gibson, who most recently was assistant coach with the CFL's Ottawa Red Blacks and the Calgary Stampeders, will take over the job from Frank McCrystal.

In August, McCrystal announced he was retiring, after more than three decades as head coach.

Gibson was unanimously approved by the Regina Rams board of directors on Saturday and will start his new job on January 1.

Saskatchewan is familiar territory for Gibson. He served as offensive line coach for the Roughriders for two seasons, including their Grey Cup win in 2007.

He has been an assistant coach in the CFL for the last 10 seasons with postings as offensive line coach and coordinator with the Blue Bombers during the 2005-2006 season and the the Tiger-Cats in 2009-2010.

Following those stints, he served as an offensive line and running back coach with the Stampeders for three seasons.

Last year, he was the offensive line coach for the Ottawa Redblacks on their return to the league. However, he was let go in November.

Gibson also has more than two decades of experience with the NCAA and has coached at numerous universities, including the University of Louisiana and Boston University.

He will become the second head coach of the Rams since the team made the switch to the Canadian Interuniversity Sport level in 1999.