COACHING STAFF

Ken Miller
Head Coach

Miller is entering his first season as head coach of the Saskatchewan Roughriders. Miller joined the Green and White as the team’s offensive coordinator last season and was instrumental in a Rider offence that led the CFL in touchdowns before moving on to win the Grey Cup.

Prior to joining the Riders, Miller spent his previous five seasons coaching with the Toronto Argonauts. In 2006 Miller was moved to the defensive side of the ball where he handled the defensive line. From 2003-2005, Miller was in charge of the Argo’s offensive line which enabled Damon Allen to have a career season where he was named the league’s Most Valuable Player in 2004. The team also went on to win the Grey Cup in that same season. Miller started his CFL coaching career when he was in charge of the Argonaut quarterbacks in 2002.

Prior to joining the CFL, Miller spent nearly four decades in various coaching capacities at the university and high school level in southern California. He joined the University of Redlands as a part-time coach in 1977 instructing the offensive line. In 1984 he made the move to full-time football head coach at Redlands and held that post until 1988. Miller also took up the position of head baseball coach at Redlands in 1986. In 1988, Miller continued coaching baseball, but switched to offensive coordinator on the football team. In 1994, Miller switched to the defensive side of the ball as a coordinator. He moved back to the offensive side of the ball in 1995 and held the offensive coordinator position until his retirement in the spring of 2001.

Miller started his coaching career as a student assistant coach with Dickinson State in 1966. He coached high school football 1967-1969 in Oregon and continued coaching at Yucaipa high school in southern California from 1970-76.

Miller grew up in Oregon and went to Dickinson State where he majored in Physical Education and Biology. He received his Masters in Education from Azusa Pacific.

Ken and his wife Maureen currently make Regina their year-round home. Their children remain in the United States; Kail, currently resides in Oregon, Bob is the head baseball coach at Cuesta College in California. Michael and Melania reside in the Greensboro, North Carolina area and Colleen remains in Redlands California.

Mike Gibson
Assistant Head Coach/Offensive Line

 Gibson is entering his second season as a Roughrider coach and his fifth in the CFL. Prior to joining the Riders, Gibson spent 2005 and 2006 as the Offensive Coordinator with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. He first entered the CFL in 2001 as the Bombers offensive line coach, helping the club to a 14-4 season and a Grey Cup appearance.

Gibson began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Western Maryland where he played his college football. In 1980 he took the job of offensive line coach/recruiting coordinator at Cornell University. Starting in 1982, he spent six years as the offensive coordinator and quarterback coach at Boston University. Gibson's next move was to Rice University where he spent two seasons as the Recruiting Coordinator and Director of Football Operations. In 1990, he moved to Temple University where he served as offensive line coach for three seasons. His next move was to Colgate University where he was the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach for two years.

In 1995, Gibson had his first taste of the CFL when he served as a guest coach with the B.C. Lions. From 1996 to 1999 he worked as OT/TE and special teams coach at Rutgers University. In 2000 he coached special teams and the safeties at Rutgers. His first full-time coaching job in the CFl occurred in 2001 as the Blue Bombers offensive line coach. He returned to the U.S. College ranks in 2002 where he spent three years as the offensive line coach at the University of Louisiana.

Gibson graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in both political science and education from Western Maryland in 1978. His hobbies include traveling and working out.

Richie Hall
Defensive Coordinator

Hall begins his 15th season as a coach within the Roughrider organization. It will be his eighth season as defensive coordinator. Hall oversees the entire defense but works daily with the defensive backs.

Hall spent nine years playing in the CFL including four seasons with the Roughriders from 1988-1991. He was also a key member of the Roughriders' 1989 Grey Cup Championship team. During his nine year career, Hall saw action in 153 regular season CFL games. He was a member of the Western Division All-Star Team on four occasions, 1983 and 1986 with the Calgary Stampeders and 1988 and 1990 in Saskatchewan. Hall was also named All-CFL for outstanding rookie performance in 1983 with the Stampeders. In 1990, Roughrider fans voted Hall the Roughriders' Most Popular Player. He was named as the Club's nominee for Outstanding Defensive Player in 1988.

Hall was born October 4th, 1960 in San Antonio, Texas. He played college football at Colorado State University for the Rams. He signed with the Stampeders as a free agent in 1983 following his college career.

Hall has a strong sense of community involvement and was recognized by the CFLPA in 1990 by winning the Tom Pate award for his outstanding dedication to the CFL, the community and his performances on the field.

Following his career with the Riders, Hall continued to be an integral part of the Saskatchewan community as a member of Regina's O'Neill Titans high school football coaching staff in 1993. Hall continues to be involved with many charities and worthwhile causes, including his annual charity golf tournament, known as the Richie Hall Red Cross Golf Classic in Yorkton, SK, which is in its 17th year in 2007.

Paul LaPolice
Offensive Coordinator

La Police is entering his second season with the Roughriders and ninth in the CFL. He spent last season coaching the receivers with the Green and White. 

Prior to his arrival in Saskatchewan, LaPolice spent the previous two years as the receivers coach with the Toronto Argonauts. In 2004 and 2005 he held the same title with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. In 2002 LaPolice accepted the role as offensive coordinator/quarterbacks, receivers and running backs coach with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. It was a position he held for two seasons. His CFL coaching career began in 2000 with the Argonauts where he took on the role of running backs/receivers coach for two seasons.

Before coming to the CFL, LaPolice spent seven years coaching in the college ranks. He spent time as an offensive coach with Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, University of New Hampshire, Western Connecticut State University and Maine Maritime Academy.
LaPolice spent four years at Plymouth State College where he received his Bachelor Degree in Physical Education. He was also a four year letter-winner and a two year starter at wide receiver.

Paul’s wife Tina was born and raised in Winnipeg. The couple welcomed their daughter Payton into their family last season.

Alex Smith
Linebackers & Special Teams Coach

2008 will be Smith's 12th season with the Roughriders, a team he grew up watching as a Regina resident. Smith will continue to coach the Rider linebackers and will also coordinate the club’s special team units. He is also a key member of the Roughriders’ CFL College Draft Team, as he is heavily involved in organizing draft material and player evaluations.

Smith originally joined the Roughriders' coaching staff in May 1997 as linebackers coach. A Level Two Certified National Coach, Smith offers the Roughriders 36 years of coaching experience. Before joining the Green and White on a full-time basis in 1997, Smith gained valuable CFL experience as a Roughrider Guest Coach in 1995 and 1996.

Prior to joining the Roughriders, Smith spent five seasons with the Regina Rams of the Prairie Junior Football League as defensive coordinator and linebacker coach. During his coaching stint with the Rams, he won three National Championships. For his coaching efforts, Smith was honoured with a Distinguished Coaching Award of Merit from the Regina High Schools and the Saskatchewan Roughrider Club Award for Recognition of Service to Amateur Football in Saskatchewan. He coached high school football at W.F. Johnson, Thom, Balfour and Scott Collegiates before moving to the Junior ranks. During his high school coaching career, Smith won three City Championships and a Provincial Championship and was awarded two Coach of the Year awards, along with 10 year and 20 year coaching awards from the Regina High Schools Athletic Association.

As a teen, Smith played high school football in Regina and then graduated to the Regina Rams program. Alex and his wife Kathy reside in Regina.

Ron Estay
Defensive Line Coach

Estay is entering his eighth coaching season with the Green and White. He will once again be in charge of the Roughriders' dominant defensive line.

Estay won six Grey Cups with the Edmonton Eskimos and played in nine championship games. He was a member of the Eskimos from 1973 to 1982. Estay was drafted by the Denver Broncos in the 8th round in the 1972 NFL Draft. He originally signed with the B. C. Lions in 1972 but was released and joined Edmonton as a free agent. Estay played the 1983 and 1984 seasons with Washington Federals in USFL. During his career, Estay was a four time Western Division All-star and two-time all-Canadian. Estay was inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame in 2003 as recognition for his outstanding career. He was the Eskimo defensive captain from 1973 to 1976…1977 and 1980 all-pro CFL…1975 Schenley award nominee as best defensive lineman in the CFL…1974 tied CFL record for most sacks in a game with five…1975 Eskimo nominee as Most Outstanding defensive lineman…CFLPA Defensive Lineman of the Year.

Estay played his college career at Louisiana State University and played in the 1971 East-West Shrine game after an outstanding season in 1971 when he was named first team all-American, AP and UPI second team all-American, all-Southern football team selection, first runner up Vince Lombardi award and named ABC Sports Television’s defensive player of the year. He entered the LSU Hall of Fame in 1988 and was inducted into Alberta Sports Hall of Fame in 2001. After his football career concluded with the Federals, Estay began his coaching career. He spent the 2000 season as defensive line coach at Liberty University after 12 years at Evangel University where he was defensive coordinator. The previous four years, Estay was Head Coach at Christian Life Academy after spending one year coaching at Jackson State high school following his player-coach days with Washington in 1984.

In June of 2006 Estay was inducted into the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame.

Ron and his wife Debbie make Regina their home. The Estay’s have a son and a daughter and have one granddaughter, Danielle Katherine Michelle Estay.

Jamie Barresi
Running Backs
Coach

Barresi is entering his 5th season as a coach in the CFL and his first with the Saskatchewan Roughriders. He joins the Green and White as the Running Backs Coach.

Previous to coming to Saskatchewan, Barresi spent the last two seasons with the B.C. Lions. In 2007 Barresi took over coaching the Lions receivers. In 2006 he worked with the team’s outstanding running back Joe Smith.

Barresi came into the CFL in 2004 where he served as the Hamilton Tiger-Cats offensive coordinator for two seasons.

Before entering the CFL coaching ranks, Barresi spent three seasons as the quarterbacks coach at the University of Central Florida. Prior to his three year stay at Central Florida, Barresi spent eight years as an assistant at Wake Forest where he served various roles which included coaching the wide receivers, quarterbacks and acting as the pass game coordinator.

Barresi also served two stints at Penn State including the title of wide receivers coach from 1988-1992. Prior to that, he coached the wide receivers at the University of Florida in 1986 and 1987.

He began his coaching career at his alma mater, the University of Ottawa, where he played quarterback. He served as an assistant coach from 1981-1983, before going to Penn State as an assistant under legendary coach Joe Paterno at Penn State from 1983-1985.

Barresi earned his undergraduate degrees from Ottawa in Kinanthropology in 1980 and education in 1981. He earned his Master’s degrees from Penn State and Florida in 1987. Barresi earned his doctorate in exercise and sports science from Penn State in 1993.

Gary Etcheverry
Defensive Assitant
Coach

Etcheverry is entering his 8th season as a coach in the CFL as he joins the Saskatchewan Roughriders as Defensive Assistant.

Etcheverry last coached in the CFL in 2004 when he was the defensive coordinator with the Ottawa Renegades. In 2002, he spent the year as the head coach and general manager of the Toronto Argonauts.

In 2001, he was the defensive coordinator for the B.C. Lions and held the same position with the Roughriders in 2000. Etcheverry joined the CFL in 1997 as a defensive line coach with the Toronto Argonauts. He spent two seasons as the defensive line coach in Toronto before being promoted to the defensive coordinator position in 1999.

Prior to joining the CFL, Etcheverry spent 16 years coaching in the U.S. college ranks, including stints at the University of San Diego, University of Redlands, San Francisco State, Occidental University and Macalaster College where he served as the head coach. He also held coaching positions in Germany and in the NFL, where he served as a special assistant on the Los Angeles Rams staff in 1988.

Etcheverry’s last coaching job was in 2005 when he was the co-defensive coordinator with the University of British Columbia.