Hamilton Tiger-Cats’ new head coach is Kent Austin.
The CFL is getting back to Kent Austin.
Austin has been appointed head coach and head of football operations for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, a CFL team. On Monday, the team made the hiring announcement.
George Cortez, who was fired last week after finishing with a 6-12 record in his debut season with Hamilton, is replaced as head coach by Austin.
With current general manager Bob O’Billovich considering a chance to stay on as a consultant for the Hamilton team, the Ticats are also in need of a general manager.
Austin was the head coach of the Saskatchewan Roughriders when they won a Grey Cup in 2007. The previous season, he was Cornell University’s head coach.
Austin released a statement saying, “I am honoured to join the Hamilton Tiger-Cats organisation.” “There are many reasons to be enthusiastic about this prospect, including the possibility of instant success, a fervent fan base behind us, and strong ownership in place. I am eager to start working towards our objective of giving Hamilton another Grey Cup victory.”
The 49-year-old Austin also got championship rings as a player with Saskatchewan in 1989 and British Columbia in 1994. He also won a Grey Cup in 2004 while serving as the offensive coordinator for the Toronto Argonauts.
His 6,225 yards passing in ’92 with Saskatchewan made him one of only four CFL quarterbacks to pass for more than 6,000 yards in a single season.
Austin started his coaching career in 2003 with the Ottawa Renegades as a quarterback coach. He joined the Argos the next season and contributed to the team’s Grey Cup victory.
In part, he was fired by the Argos during the 2006 season for not making the most of running back Ricky Williams, who was suspended by the NFL for using performance-enhancing drugs during that season.
Austin resurfaced quickly, being hired as Saskatchewan’s head coach for the 2007 season. He helped guide the Roughriders to a 23-19 Grey Cup win over Winnipeg at Rogers Centre, becoming the first head coach to win a championship with the same team he did so as a quarterback.
