Paul LaPolice

Paul LaPolice (June 12, 1970) is a Canadian football offensive coordinator for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He has also worked as a broadcaster for TSN. He served as head coach for the Blue Bombers from 2010 to 2012, compiling a record of 16 wins and 28 losses.

Early life and education

LaPolice was born and raised in Nashua, New Hampshire. After graduating from Nashua High School, he attended Plymouth State College where he played as a wide receiver on the football team. LaPolice earned his Bachelor of Science degree in physical education in 1994.

Coaching career

Early career

He broke into the coaching ranks in 1993 at Maine Maritime Academy where he served as the receivers and tight ends coach on a 9–1 team that won the NEFC and ECAC championship. The next year he coached receivers at Western Connecticut State University. He left to become the receivers coach at the University of New Hampshire for the next two seasons (1995–1996). In 1997, he was named the quarterbacks and receivers coach at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. The following year he was promoted to offensive coordinator where his offenses broke 21 offensive school records in two seasons (1998–1999). In 1998, tailback Krishaun Gilmore was named UCAA and ECAC Player of the Year and a first team all American selection and finished second in the nation in rushing under LaPolice. The next year, quarterback Matt Robbens was also named UCAA and ECAC Player of the Year making the second in two years under LaPolice, as he led Rensselear to an undefeated regular season.

Canadian Football League

LaPolice entered the Canadian Football League in 2000 when Toronto Argonauts head coach John Huard hired him to become the team's Quarterbacks and receivers coach.^[2] He spent two years in this capacity until he joined the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and became their offensive coordinator, quarterbacks, receivers and running backs coach. The club set 14 offensive team records in 2002, including Khari Jones throwing for a team record 46 touchdowns and slotback Milt Stegall catching a league-record 23 touchdown passes and being named the CFL's Most Outstanding Player.^[3] The offense faltered with a struggling Khari Jones in 2003 and LaPolice was let go at the conclusion of the season.

In 2004 he joined the Hamilton Tiger-Cats as the team's receivers coach and stayed with the team for two years until rejoining the Toronto Argonauts, again, as the receivers coach. After former Argos' offensive coordinator Kent Austin was hired as head coach of the Saskatchewan Roughriders, LaPolice joined him as that team's receivers coach. After Austin left the team and Roughrider offensive coordinator Ken Miller was promoted to head coach, LaPolice was, in turn, promoted to offensive coordinator in 2008. The team finished 12–6 in 2008 and lost in the first round of the playoffs. In 2009, the Roughriders finished in first place in the West Division for the first time in 33 years, won the West final and lost in the Grey Cup final to the Montreal Alouettes on the last play. LaPolice's offense finished second in scoring and in touchdowns scored as he helped first year starting quarterback Darian Durant to a Western Division All Star nomination. After serving in that capacity for the 2008 and 2009 seasons, LaPolice was hired as the 28th head coach of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.^[4]

LaPolice's first season as head coach of the Blue Bombers saw the team win only four games and miss the playoffs. The following year, the LaPolice helped to orchestrate one of the biggest turnarounds in CFL history as the Blue Bombers finished first place in the East Division for the first time since 2001. The team also earned a berth in the Grey Cup, but lost to the BC Lions in the championship game. LaPolice named a finalist for the CFL Coach of the Year in 2011 and given a contract extension during the offseason. However, after the club's poor start to the 2012 season, LaPolice was relieved of coaching duties by general manager Joe Mack midway through the season.^[4]

After three years as a broadcaster, LaPolice returned to coaching as he re-joined the Winnipeg Blue Bombers as their offensive coordinator, marking his third stint with the team.^[5]

Broadcasting career

TSN brought LaPolice on board as a guest analyst for the 2012 playoffs. Since 2013, LaPolice had worked full-time for the CFL on TSN, hosting a segment called the "Coach's Playbook" and appearing occasionally on the TSN panel.^[6]

CFL coaching record

References