MontrealAlouettes.com
MONTREAL – The Alouettes announced on Wednesday that defensive coordinator Noel Thorpe and offensive assistant Ryan Dinwiddie have both agreed to two-year contract extensions with the club, keeping the two coaches with the Alouettes until the 2015 season.
Thorpe, who spent six years with the Alouettes between 2002 and 2007 before returning as the team’s defensive coordinator last season, has also been appointed the team’s assistant head coach.
In his first season as Montreal’s defensive boss, Thorpe’s defence ranked either first or second in 12 of 25 CFL defensive categories, the Alouettes having led just three of 25 the season prior.
He notably improved the team’s number of touchdowns and first downs allowed from 45 (6th) and 380 (6th) a season ago to 39 (2nd) and 320 (2nd) respectively in 2013.
Also the team’s defensive backs coach, Thorpe coached all three of his DBs in Jerald Brown, Geoff Tisdale and Billy Parker to a trio of East Division All-Star nominations, while Tisdale also finished the season with a league-leading seven interceptions.
Dinwiddie, who broke into the CFL as quarterback with the Alouettes in 2005, began his coaching career in 2013 with the Alouettes.
All other coaches remain under contract and are expected to return for the 2014 season.
