Breaking: Toronto Argonauts hire former CFL players Maxie, Picard to coaching staff…

In a significant coaching staff update, the Toronto Argonauts have bolstered their ranks by bringing in former CFL players Demetrious Maxie and Dominic Picard. Maxie assumes the role of defensive line coach, while Picard takes charge as the running backs coach, marking key additions to the Argonauts’ coaching cadre.

Demetrious Maxie, hailing from Shreveport, La., commences his coaching journey at his alma mater, the University of Texas El Paso, in 2010. Initially serving as a defensive line and linebackers coach, Maxie accrued valuable coaching experience. His most recent tenure spans eight years with the Edmonton Elks, where he transitioned from linebackers coach to coaching the defensive line in 2018. Maxie’s extensive playing career in the CFL, spanning 13 seasons from 1995 to 2007, including five seasons with the Argos, adds a wealth of on-field expertise to his coaching role. A two-time Grey Cup winner in Toronto, Maxie achieved distinction as a CFL all-star twice, concluding his playing career with impressive stats of 263 defensive tackles and 70 sacks.

Dominic Picard, a native of Sainte-Foy, Que., commenced his coaching journey in 2016 at the high school level before advancing to the CEGEP level with St-Jean Géants and Garneau Élans in 2020. His most recent coaching role involved serving as the offensive coordinator and offensive line coach at the Université de Sherbrooke during the previous season, marking his entry into U Sports coaching. Picard, a third-round pick in the 2006 CFL Draft from Laval Université, boasts a decade-long CFL playing career. As a centre for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, Argos, and Saskatchewan Roughriders, Picard clinched the Grey Cup with the Riders in 2013 and secured an East Division all-star recognition in 2011. Additionally, Picard shares a history with Toronto’s head coach, Ryan Dinwiddie, having been teammates with the Blue Bombers for three seasons.

The coaching staff adjustments for the Argos come in the wake of losing defensive coordinator and defensive line coach Corey Mace to the Saskatchewan Roughriders earlier in the off-season, where he assumed the role of head coach. Furthermore, the team saw running backs coach Edwin Harrison depart to the Riders, transitioning to coaching the offensive line for the upcoming 2024 season. The appointment of a defensive coordinator for Toronto remains unspecified at this juncture.

The additions of Maxie and Picard underscore the Argonauts’ commitment to fortifying their coaching staff with seasoned individuals possessing a deep understanding of the Canadian football landscape.