The Ottawa Redblacks have fired head coach Paul LaPolice, the team announced on Saturday.
The move came after the league-worst Redblacks fell to 3-11 with a 34-19 loss against the B.C. Lions in Vancouver on Friday.
Special teams coach Bob Dyce will replace LaPolice as interim head coach.
“I have enjoyed working with Paul and thank him for his contributions to this team over the past two seasons; today isn’t an easy day,” Redblacks GM Shawn Burke said in a statement. “In this business, sometimes a change is required to help move a team forward and that’s what we’ve done here. We’re fortunate to have a coach of Bob Dyce’s calibre and experience able to step up and take on this role.”
Last week’s setback versus Toronto was the 21st loss in the past 22 home games for the Redblacks, who have struggled badly since making their third Grey Cup appearance in four years in 2018.
LaPolice was in his second year as Redblacks head coach and had a total record of 6-22.
Redblacks GM Shawn Burke, hired prior to this season, inherited LaPolice and kept him on after making major roster changes in free agency, including at quarterback with Jeremiah Masoli.
But Masoli suffered a serious leg injury in Week 5, forcing the Redblacks to go with Caleb Evans and Nick Arbuckle at quarterback.
Arbuckle was pulled at halftime against Toronto last week, but got back in late in the game after Evans’ rocky showing. Arbuckle started again in Vancouver.
A longtime assistant coach and head coach in the CFL, LaPolice also was the bench boss for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers from 2010-12. His combined record as a head coach is 22-50.
LaPolice becomes the second head coach to be fired in the CFL this year.
Montreal Alouettes GM Danny Maciocia fired Khari Jones and made himself head coach after the team’s 1-3 start.
