Craig Dickenson
{{Short description|Canadian gridiron football player and coach (born 1971)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{Infobox Canadian Football League biography
| name = Craig Dickenson
| image = File:Craig Dickenson.jpg
| alt =
| caption = Dickenson with the Roughriders in 2019
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1971|9|4|mf=y}}
| birth_place = Great Falls, Montana, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| team = Calgary Stampeders
| position1 = Special teams coordinator
| height_ft =
| height_in =
| weight_lb =
| college = Montana
| coaching_years1 = 1995–1998
| coaching_team1 = Montana (STC)
| coaching_years2 = 1999
| coaching_team2 = Utah State (RBC)
| coaching_years3 = {{NFL Year|2000}}–{{NFL Year|2001}}
| coaching_team3 = San Diego Chargers (Ass. STC)
| coaching_years4 = {{CFL Year|2002}}
| coaching_team4 = Calgary Stampeders (RC)
| coaching_years5 = {{CFL Year|2003}}
| coaching_team5 = Montreal Alouettes (RBC)
| coaching_years6 = {{CFL Year|2004}}
| coaching_team6 = Calgary Stampeders (RBC)
| coaching_years7 = {{CFL Year|2005}}–{{CFL Year|2009}}
| coaching_team7 = Calgary Stampeders (STC)
| coaching_years8 = {{NFL Year|2010}}
| coaching_team8 = Oakland Raiders (Ass. STC)
| coaching_years9 = {{CFL Year|2011}}–{{CFL Year|2012}}
| coaching_team9 = Saskatchewan Roughriders (STC)
| coaching_years10 = {{CFL Year|2013}}
| coaching_team10 = Winnipeg Blue Bombers (STC)
| coaching_years11 = {{CFL Year|2014}}–{{CFL Year|2015}}
| coaching_team11 = Edmonton Eskimos (STC)
| coaching_years12 = {{CFL Year|2016}}–{{CFL Year|2018}}
| coaching_team12 = Saskatchewan Roughriders (STC)
| coaching_years13 = {{CFL Year|2019}}–{{CFL Year|2023}}
| coaching_team13 = Saskatchewan Roughriders (HC/STC)
| coaching_years14 = {{CFL Year|2025}}–present
| coaching_team14 = Calgary Stampeders (STC)
| administrating_years1 = {{CFL Year|2024}}
| administrating_team1 = Calgary Stampeders
(Senior consultant)
| career_highlights = * 2× Grey Cup champion (2008, 2015)
}}
Craig Dickenson (born September 4, 1971) is a professional football coach who is the special teams coordinator for the Calgary Stampeders of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He has also served as the head coach for the Saskatchewan Roughriders for four seasons. He has coached professional football since 2000 and won a Grey Cup championship with the CFL's Calgary Stampeders in 2008 and with the Edmonton Eskimos in 2015.{{cite web|url=http://www.riderville.com/page/coaching_staff|title=Riderville.com | Official Site of the Saskatchewan Roughriders - COACHING STAFF|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110815103802/http://www.riderville.com/page/coaching_staff|archive-date=August 15, 2011|url-status=dead|access-date=August 15, 2011}} Saskatchewan Roughriders profile page
College career
Coaching career
Dickenson was a Special Teams Assistant for the NFL's San Diego Chargers in 2000 and 2001.{{Cite web |date=2011-02-01 |title=Dickenson takes over Rider special teams |url=https://www.cfl.ca/2011/02/01/dickenson-takes-over-rider-special-teams/ |access-date=2023-08-22 |website=CFL.ca |language=en}}
Dickenson first coached in the Canadian Football League when he was hired by Wally Buono to be the receivers coach and offensive assistant for the CFL's Calgary Stampeders on March 25, 2002.{{cite web|url=http://www.cfl.ca/CFLNews0203/25_cal.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021219121900/http://www.cfl.ca/CFLNews0203/25_cal.html |archive-date=December 19, 2002 |title=Dickenson becomes a Stampeder |publisher=Canadian Football League |date=March 25, 2002}} In 2003, he moved to the CFL's Montreal Alouettes to be their Running Back Coach.{{Cite web |date=2005-12-07 |title=ASSISTANT COACHES BACK IN 06 |url=https://www.stampeders.com/2005/12/07/assistant-coaches-back-in-06/ |access-date=2023-08-22 |website=Calgary Stampeders |language=en}}
In 2004, Dickenson returned to Calgary to handle the receivers and running backs on the team's coaching staff.{{Cite web |date=2009-12-08 |title=Stamps announce Craig Dickenson's departure |url=https://www.stampeders.com/2009/12/08/stamps-announce-craig-dickenson-s-departure/ |access-date=2023-08-22 |website=Calgary Stampeders |language=en}} He was Calgary's Special Teams Coordinator for the 2005 and 2006 seasons. Prior to the 2007 season, the Stampeders announced that Dickenson had agreed to a contract extension to continue as the team's Special Teams Coordinator.{{Cite web |date=2006-12-05 |title=Stampeders appoint executive team for 2007 |url=https://www.cfl.ca/2006/12/05/stampeders_appoint_executive_team_for_2007/ |access-date=2023-08-22 |website=CFL.ca |language=en}}
Calgary's new Head Coach, John Hufnagel, kept Dickenson as the team's Special Team's Coordinator for the 2008 season.{{Cite web |date=2007-12-11 |title=Stampeders confirm coaching staff for 2008 |url=https://www.thestar.com/sports/stampeders-confirm-coaching-staff-for-2008/article_72a94d92-3866-5fd4-b57d-b40923fd725a.html |access-date=2023-08-22 |website=Toronto Star |language=en}} Calgary won the Grey Cup that year, making Dickenson a Grey Cup champion for the first time. Dickenson remained as Calgary's Special Teams Coordinator for the 2009 season.{{Cite web |date=2009-03-11 |title=Stamps confirm '09 coaching staff |url=https://www.stampeders.com/2009/03/11/stamps-confirm-09-coaching-staff/ |access-date=2023-08-22 |website=Calgary Stampeders |language=en}} He departed the team on December 8, 2009, having spent seven years with Calgary, the final five being in charge of Special Teams.
Dickenson was the Assistant Special Teams Coordinator with the NFL's Oakland Raiders for the 2010 season.
Dickenson was the Special Teams Coordinator of the CFL's Saskatchewan Roughriders for the 2011 season, and retained this position for the 2012 season.{{Cite web |date=2012-01-09 |title=Dickenson returns to lead Riders' Special Teams |url=https://www.riderville.com/2012/01/09/dickenson-returns-to-lead-riders-special-teams/ |access-date=2023-08-22 |website=Saskatchewan Roughriders |language=en}} On January 3, 2013, Dickenson resigned as Special Teams Coordinator of the Saskatchewan Roughriders.{{Cite web |date=2013-01-03 |title=Special Teams Coordinator Craig Dickenson Resigns |url=https://www.riderville.com/2013/01/03/special-teams-coordinator-craig-dickenson-resigns/ |access-date=2023-08-22 |website=Saskatchewan Roughriders |language=en}} The following day, he joined the CFL's Winnipeg Blue Bombers to be their Special Teams Coordinator for the 2013 season.{{Cite web |date=2013-01-04 |title=Blue Bombers name Craig Dickenson Special Teams Coordinator |url=https://www.bluebombers.com/2013/01/04/blue-bombers-name-craig-dickenson-special-teams-coordinator/ |access-date=2023-08-22 |website=Winnipeg Blue Bombers |language=en}}
On January 28, 2014, new Edmonton Eskimos Head Coach, Chris Jones, announced that Dickenson was going to be the team's Special Teams Coordinator for the 2014 season.{{Cite web |date=2014-01-28 |title=McAdoo and Jackson headline Esks new staff |url=https://www.cfl.ca/2014/01/28/mcadoo-dickenson-and-jackson-headline-esks-new-staff/ |access-date=2023-08-22 |website=CFL.ca |language=en}} Dickenson retained this position on Jones' staff for the 2015 season,{{Cite web |date=2015-05-27 |title=Esks Coaching Staff Returns |url=https://www.goelks.com/2015/05/27/esks-coaching-staff-returns/ |access-date=2023-08-22 |website=Edmonton Elks |language=en}} and Edmonton won the Grey Cup. This was the second time Dickenson was a Grey Cup champion.
Shortly after winning the Grey Cup, Chris Jones became the General Manager and Head Coach of the Saskatchewan Roughriders for the 2016 season. He brought most of his coaching staff from Edmonton to Saskatchewan, including Dickenson as Special Teams Coordinator.{{Cite web |date=2015-12-16 |title=Jones rounds out Riders' 2016 coaching staff |url=https://www.cfl.ca/2015/12/16/riders-reveal-2015-coaching-staff/ |access-date=2023-08-22 |website=CFL.ca |language=en}} This marked Dickenson's second stint as Saskatchewan's Special Teams Coordinator. Dickenson remained in this position for the 2017{{Cite web |date=2017-04-24 |title=RIDERS ANNOUNCE COACHING STAFF |url=https://www.riderville.com/2017/04/24/riders-announce-coaching-staff-3/ |access-date=2023-08-22 |website=Saskatchewan Roughriders |language=en}} and 2018{{Cite web |title=Craig Dickenson {{!}} Saskatchewan Roughriders™ {{!}} Riderville.com |url=https://www.riderville.com/craig-dickenson/ |access-date=2023-08-22 |website=Saskatchewan Roughriders |language=en}} seasons.
In January 2019, Jones resigned as Saskatchewan's General Manager and Head Coach to join the NFL's Cleveland Browns.{{Cite web |date=2019-01-15 |title=Jones officially resigns from Riders; takes job in NFL |url=https://www.cfl.ca/2019/01/15/report-chris-jones-leaving-cfl-take-nfl-job/ |access-date=2023-08-22 |website=CFL.ca |language=en}} Jeremy O'Day was named Saskatchewan's General Manager.{{Cite web |date=2019-01-18 |title=Riders name O'Day GM, VP of football ops |url=https://www.cfl.ca/2019/01/18/riders-name-oday-gm-vp-football-ops/ |access-date=2023-08-22 |website=CFL.ca |language=en}} Dickenson was one of the candidates O'Day interviewed for the Head Coach position, and Dickenson was subsequently promoted on January 25, 2019.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cfl.ca/2019/01/25/riders-promote-craig-dickenson-head-coach/|title=Riders promote Craig Dickenson to head coach|date=2019-01-25|website=CFL.ca|language=en|access-date=2019-01-26}} The Riders finished 2019 with an improved record of 13–5, winning the West Division for the first time in a decade.{{Cite web|url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/football/cfl/roughriders-beat-eskimos-win-west-division-first-time-since-2009/|title = Roughriders beat Eskimos, win West Division for first time since 2009 - Sportsnet.ca}} Saskatchewan ultimately lost at home in the Western Final to the eventual Grey Cup champions, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. Dickenson was nominated that year as the CFL West Division's Coach of the Year, finishing as runner-up to Hamilton's Orlondo Steinauer for the overall league award.{{Cite web |title=Hamilton Tiger-Cats |url=https://ticats.ca/article/steinauer-named-cfls-coach-of-the-year |access-date=2023-08-22 |language=en-US}}
Dickenson signed a contract extension in December 2020, keeping him as Saskatchewan's Head Coach through the 2023 season.{{Cite web |date=2020-12-15 |title=Morris: With new contracts in hand, Riders brass prioritizing '21 to-dos |url=https://www.cfl.ca/2020/12/15/morris-new-contracts-hand-riders-brass-prioritizing-21-dos/ |access-date=2023-08-22 |website=CFL.ca |language=en}} With Dickenson as Saskatchewan's Head Coach in 2021, the Riders finished second in the West Division, won their first home playoff game at new Mosaic Stadium, but once again lost to the eventual Grey Cup champion Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the Western Final. Saskatchewan started the 2022 season under Dickenson 4-1, but ultimately finished with a disappointing 6-12 record and failed to make the playoffs for the first time since 2016.
After the season, there was much speculation about the future of the Riders' coaching staff. However, on November 1, 2022, it was announced that Dickenson would return as head coach,{{Cite web |agency=The Canadian Press |date=2022-11-01 |title=Dickenson to return as Riders head coach despite disastrous 2022 season - TSN.ca |url=https://www.tsn.ca/cfl/craig-dickenson-to-return-saskatchewan-roughriders-1.1871755 |access-date=2022-11-02 |website=TSN |language=en}} while Offensive coordinator Jason Maas and two other offensive coaches were not retained by the team.{{Cite web |last=Dunk |first=Justin |date=2022-11-01 |title=Saskatchewan Roughriders fire offensive coordinator Jason Maas |url=https://3downnation.com/2022/11/01/saskatchewan-roughriders-fire-offensive-coordinator-jason-maas/ |access-date=2022-11-02 |website=3DownNation |language=en-US}}
In 2023, after the Riders again posted a 6-12 record and missed the playoffs for a second straight season. The team announced they had opted not to renew Dickenson's contract on October 23, 2023.{{Cite web |date=2023-10-23 |title=Craig Dickenson out as Riders head coach, O'Day remains general manager |url=https://regina.ctvnews.ca/craig-dickenson-out-as-riders-head-coach-o-day-remains-general-manager-1.6613286 |access-date=2023-10-26 |website=Regina |language=en}}
On March 12, 2024, it was announced that Dickenson had joined the Calgary Stampeders as a senior consultant.{{Cite web |date=2024-03-27 |title=Craig Dickenson back in Calgary |url=https://www.stampeders.com/2024/03/12/craig-dickenson-back-in-calgary/ |publisher=Calgary Stampeders |language=en-US}} After a year as a consultant, he returned to a coaching position when he was named the team's special teams coordinator on December 16, 2024.{{Cite web |date=December 16, 2024 |title=Stamps Announce 2025 Coaching Staff |url=https://www.stampeders.com/2024/12/16/stamps-announce-2025-coaching-staff/ |publisher=Calgary Stampeders |language=en-US}}
=CFL coaching record=
| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%; text-align:center;" | |||||||
| rowspan="2"|Team | rowspan="2"|Year | colspan="5"|Regular Season | colspan="4"|Post Season | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Won | Lost | Ties | Win % | Finish | Won | Lost | Result |
| style="background:#fdd;"
||13||5||0||.722|| 1st in West Division || 0 || 1 || Lost in West Final | |||||||
| style="background:#ddd;"
|align="center" colSpan="8"| Season Cancelled | |||||||
| style="background:#fdd;"
||9||5||0||.643|| 2nd in West Division || 1 || 1 || Lost in West Final | |||||||
| SSK||2022
||6||12||0||.333|| 4th in West Division || - || - || Missed Playoffs | |||||||
| SSK||2023
||6||12||0||.333|| 4th in West Division || - || - || Missed Playoffs | |||||||
| colspan="2"|Total
||34||34||0||.500||1 Division |
Personal life
Dickenson is the older brother of Dave Dickenson, the General Manager and Head Coach for the Calgary Stampeders as of December 12, 2022.{{Cite web |date=2022-12-12 |title=Dickenson Adds Title Of GM |url=https://www.stampeders.com/2022/12/12/dickenson-adds-title-of-general-manager/ |access-date=2023-08-22 |website=Calgary Stampeders |language=en}} His mother, Sue Dickenson, is a former legislator in Montana.{{Cite web |title=Mansch: Craig Dickenson hoping to turn Roughriders into consistent winners |url=https://www.greatfallstribune.com/story/sports/2019/06/26/sunday-conversation-craig-dickenson-optimistic-his-roughriders/1576727001/ |access-date=2023-08-22 |website=Great Falls Tribune |language=en-US}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.stampeders.com/criag-dickenson/ Calgary Stampeders profile]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20141129084332/http://www.esks.com/page/profile-craig-dickenson Edmonton Eskimos profile]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20130928215242/http://www.bluebombers.com/page/craig-dickenson Winnipeg Blue Bombers profile page]
{{Canadian Football League special teams coordinator navbox}}
{{Saskatchewan Roughriders coach navbox}}
{{96th Grey Cup}}
{{103rd Grey Cup}}
{{1995 Montana Grizzlies football navbox}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Dickenson, Craig}}
Category:Sportspeople from Great Falls, Montana
Category:Players of American football from Montana
Category:Montana Grizzlies football players
Category:Coaches of American football from Montana
Category:Montana Grizzlies football coaches
Category:Utah State Aggies football coaches
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Category:Calgary Stampeders coaches
Category:Montreal Alouettes coaches
Category:Oakland Raiders coaches
Category:Saskatchewan Roughriders coaches