Charlie Taaffe staying, says Ticats president

Mitchell says report of coach departing for University of West Virginia inaccurate

Last Updated: Thursday, January 10, 2008 | 6:18 PM ET

CBC Sports

Contrary to a report in Thursday's Charleston Gazette, Hamilton Tiger-Cats coach Charlie Taaffe is not leaving the CFL team to become offensive co-ordinator and coach of quarterbacks at the University of West Virginia.

Team president Scott Mitchell told CBCSports.ca that he received a call from Taaffe, who said there was never a contract offer from the school.

The Tiger-Cats finished last in the CFL in 2007 with a 3-15 record under coach Charlie Taaffe.
(Nathan Denette/Canadian Press)

"This is so far overblown it's ridiculous. I've got a lot of things to take care of today and nothing to do with Charlie," said Mitchell, who called the Gazette story inaccurate. "Charlie called me and said, 'I don't know what you're hearing but it's not true.'

"A guy wrote a story that wasn't accurate. He's admitted now it's not accurate. He'd heard that Charlie was being discussed [as a potential candidate]. He didn't have any specific verification there was an offer made.

"I can only tell you for a fact Charlie's not been offered a formal job or contract. No one's called for permission [to talk to Taaffe] about a job because he's under contract to us."

A CFL source requesting anonymity said Thursday that Taaffe's three-year deal with Hamilton signed prior to last season doesn't contain an escape clause that would allow him to leave for another job.

Mike Montoro, the director of football communications at the University of West Virginia, denied published reports that Taaffe had been hired.

"No, not at all … and it would come from me," Montoro told the Canadian Press. "It hasn't officially been released and no one has officially told me he's in the running for [offensive co-ordinator's job]."

The move would also be a demotion of sorts for Taaffe, who reportedly earns $300,000 US as the Ticats coach and would likely make between $150,000 and $300,000 as an offensive co-ordinator in the National Collegiate Athletic Association.

On Dec. 13, Hamilton general manager Bob O'Billovich announced Taaffe was being retained, despite the team's league-worst 3-15 record last season.

O'Billovich, who was hired away from the B.C. Lions on Dec. 5, met with Taaffe before joining the Ticats and said the coach had made a favourable impression upon him.

"After several meetings and in-depth discussions with Charlie about our football team, I am confident that we have the right coach to lead our team," O'Billovich said at the time.

Added Taaffe: "I appreciate the confidence that management has shown in me with this decision. I'm more determined than ever to bring a winning team to Hamilton."

Taaffe was named CFL coach of the year in 1999 and 2000 with Montreal before leaving Canada to become an assistant coach at the University of Maryland. He was an offensive consultant at the University of Pittsburgh prior to arriving in Hamilton.

The Ticats recently hired Marcel Bellefeuille and Denny Creehan as their new offensive and defensive co-ordinators.