This just in....

The Saskatchewan Roughriders announced today that Corey Chamblin has been named their new head coach.

“We are very excited about hiring Corey to be our head coach,” stated General Manager Brendan Taman. “He brings a vision with him that will lead to a team the fans will be proud of. Being a head coach is about managing men and relating to the players which I feel is Corey’s strong point.”

Chamblin comes to the Green and White from the Hamilton Tiger-Cats where he most recently served as the Defensive Coordinator and Defensive Backs Coach. Chamblin spent three seasons working with the defensive backs in Calgary where the Stamps secondary had great success and were looked upon as some of the toughest defensive backs in the CFL. In 2008 the Stamps claimed the Grey Cup after holding the CFL’s Most Outstanding Player Anthony Calvillo without a touchdown pass in the championship game. Over the course of his time in Calgary, Chamblin led a number of players to great achievements including Brandon Browner who is a current starting cornerback for the NFL’s Seattle Seahawks.

“To be named the head coach is a great opportunity and I am genuinely excited to be a part of the Saskatchewan Roughriders, “stated Chamblin. “I have always looked at the Riders knowing it is a team I could be a part of. It’s so similar to where I’m from and what I’m used to – the work ethic of the players, the professionalism of the organization and the excitement of the fans – this is how football is supposed to be.”

When he first arrived in the CFL in 2007, Chamblin served as the Defensive Backs Coach with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers who had the second best pass defence in the CFL. They also held the MOP of that season - Kerry Joseph to a mere 181 passing yards in the Grey Cup game.

Since entering the CFL all teams Chamblin has been a part of have always made it to division finals or the Grey Cup each and every year. That winning mentality was evident among his players as he molded and guided Browner, Dwight Anderson and Justin Hickman to being named CFL All-Stars during his time with their respective teams.

Before coming to the CFL, the Birmingham, Alabama native spent time coaching in NFL Europe in 2006 where he worked as a defensive assistant and secondary coach for the Frankfurt Galaxy who went on to claim the World Bowl Championship. During that season he helped develop a young Joselio Hanson who went on the following season to sign with the Philadelphia Eagles where he remains a key component of the teams secondary. In addition during the 2006 season, Chamblin completed a coaching internship with the NFL’s Washington Redskins.

Chamblin began his coaching career in 2005 when he became an assistant coach at Cumberland University in Tennessee.

In high school Chamblin played a variety of positions for the football team including defensive back, linebacker and running back. His versatility as a player led to a full scholarship at Tennessee Tech where he played free safety.

Despite going undrafted, Chamblin went on to sign as a free agent with the Baltimore Ravens in 1999. That season he played with Jacksonville Jaguars where he was a member of the team’s first defensive squad and blocked a punt in the AFC Divisional victory over the Miami Dolphins. He remained in the NFL until 2004 spending time with the Green Bay Packers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Denver Broncos and Indianapolis Colts. He rounded out his playing career with the Rhein Fire of NFL Europe.

During his time in the NFL Chamblin had the opportunity to play for Mike Tomlin – Head Coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers. At the time Tomlin was the Defensive Backs Coach with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at the young age of 29. It was then that Chamblin made the realization that his future would be in coaching. Since that time the two have stayed in touch and Tomlin remains to be a great mentor to Chamblin who feels the young coach blazed a path for others to follow after being named a Head Coach in the NFL at the age of 34.

“Corey is a great football person and I’m glad he has the opportunity to become the head coach of the Saskatchewan Roughriders," stated Tomlin. "He is such a hard worker and has tremendous leadership skills. Corey deserves this opportunity and I wish him nothing but the best.”

Corey, his wife Samantha, son Karter and their two dogs India and Maggie are excited to make the move to Riderville.

Chamblin becomes the 29th head coach in Riders modern history.