In a sweeping organizational change, the Ottawa Redblacks have unveiled a dramatically reshaped coaching staff for the 2026 Canadian Football League season. The team announced on Thursday that new general manager and head coach Ryan Dinwiddie will retain just three members from the previous coaching roster, signaling a fresh start for the franchise.
Major Departures and Key Holdovers
The overhaul sees the departure of several notable figures, including former Redblacks head coach Rick Campbell, who returned to Ottawa in 2025 as special teams coordinator after guiding the team to a Grey Cup victory in 2016. Also moving on is offensive coordinator Tommy Condell, whose exit was anticipated after Dinwiddie assumed the offensive coordinator duties himself.
The lone holdovers from the 2025 staff under then-head coach Bob Dyce are defensive coordinator Will Fields, offensive-line coach Mike Gibson, and Nate Taylor. Taylor will transition from his role as running backs coach to take on the positions of assistant special teams coordinator and quality control.
Introducing the New Coaching Lineup
Dinwiddie has assembled a diverse staff blending seasoned CFL veterans and new talent. Replacing Rick Campbell as special teams coordinator will be Jeff Reinebold, a longtime CFL coach with experience across six teams, most recently with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in 2023.
Other key appointments include:
- Drew Tate as quarterback coach. Tate, who played for Ottawa in 2017, previously worked with Dinwiddie in Toronto.
- Damaso Munoz as linebackers coach, replacing Deion Melvin. Munoz is a former CFL East Division all-star who played for Ottawa from 2014-2016.
- Pete Costanza as receivers coach, taking over for Travis Moore. Costanza brings 31 years of coaching experience and six Grey Cup rings.
- Phillip Daniels as defensive line coach, succeeding Kai Ellis. Daniels joins from the 2025 champion Saskatchewan Roughriders.
- Evan Harrington as the new running backs coach, coming from a three-year stint as an offensive assistant with the NFL's Dallas Cowboys.
It is also expected that defensive coordinator Will Fields will add defensive backs coaching to his responsibilities, as Myron Lewis was not retained.
A Vision for the Future
In a team release, Ryan Dinwiddie expressed confidence in his newly assembled group. "We're extremely excited about the group we've assembled," Dinwiddie stated. "There's a tremendous amount of experience on this staff, with coaches who have won at a high level and understand what it takes to be successful in this league."
He emphasized the intentional mix of proven winners and emerging coaching talent, noting the inclusion of several former players who understand the professional game's demands. "We believe this mix of proven winners and emerging coaches puts us in a strong position to lead our football club moving forward," Dinwiddie concluded.
The extensive changes follow Dinwiddie's hiring in November and represent his first major imprint on the Redblacks' football operations as they look to rebuild and compete in the CFL's East Division.
