Gregory Edward Marshall (born September 9, 1956) is the defensive line coach for the Ottawa Redblacks of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He is also a former gridiron football defensive end where he played professionally for the Ottawa Rough Riders for nine years where he was named the league's Most Outstanding Defensive Player in 1983. He has also served as the head coach for the Saskatchewan Roughriders (CFL) and the Toronto Varsity Blues (U Sports).
| Ottawa Redblacks | |
 Marshall with the Ottawa Redblacks in 2024 | |
| Born: | September 9, 1956 Beverly, Massachusetts, U.S. |
|---|---|
| Career information | |
| CFL status | American |
| Position(s) | Defensive line coach |
| Height | 6 ft 4 in (193 cm) |
| Weight | 240 lb (110 kg) |
| College | Oregon State |
| NFL draft | 1978, round: 7, pick: 186 |
| Drafted by | Philadelphia Eagles |
| Career history | |
| As coach | |
| 1990 | Ottawa Bootleggers (HC) |
| 1991–1993 | Ottawa Sooners (HC) |
| 1994–1995 | Saskatchewan Roughriders (DL coach) |
| 1996–1999 | Saskatchewan Roughriders (DC) |
| 2000–2004 | Edmonton Eskimos (DC/DL coach) |
| 2005 | Ottawa Renegades (A. HC/DC) |
| 2006–2008 | Winnipeg Blue Bombers (DC/LB coach) |
| 2009–2010 | Hamilton Tiger-Cats (A. HC/DC/LB coach) |
| 2011 | Saskatchewan Roughriders (HC) |
| 2013 | Edmonton Eskimos (DC) |
| 2014–2017 | Queen's Gaels (DC) |
| 2018–2023 | Toronto Varsity Blues (HC) |
| 2024–present | Ottawa Redblacks (DL coach) |
| As player | |
| 1978 | Baltimore Colts |
| 1980–1988 | Ottawa Rough Riders |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
| CFL All-Star | 1981, 1983 |
| CFL East All-Star | 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984 |
Playing career
editMarshall played college football with the Oregon State Beavers as a defensive tackle. He was drafted in the seventh round of the 1978 NFL draft by the Philadelphia Eagles, but ended up playing in two games for the Baltimore Colts that season. Marshall later played in the CFL for nine seasons as a defensive end for the Ottawa Rough Riders.
Coaching career
editAfter his playing career ended, Marshall ventured into coaching semi-professional football. In 1990, Marshall served as head coach for the Ottawa Bootleggers of the Empire Football League. The next three years, he served as head coach for the Ottawa Sooners of the Canadian Junior Football League.
Marshall began his CFL coaching career with the Saskatchewan Roughriders in 1994, spending the next six seasons with them as their defensive co-ordinator and defensive line coach.
In 2000, Marshall spent the next five seasons with the Edmonton Eskimos, initially as their defensive line coach, then later as their defensive co-ordinator.
In 2005, Marshall served as the defensive co-ordinator and assistant head coach for the Ottawa Renegades. This season would ultimately end up being the Renegades final season before the team suspended their operations.
In 2006, Marshall joined the Winnipeg Blue Bombers as their defensive line coach and defensive co-ordinator, a position he held for the next three seasons.
On January 13, 2009, the Hamilton Tiger-Cats announced the hiring of Marshall as their new defensive co-ordinator and assistant head coach.[1]
On January 5, 2011, it was announced that Marshall had been hired by the Saskatchewan Roughriders to replace Ken Miller as head coach of the club.[2] After a 1–7 start to the 2011 season, the Roughriders fired Marshall on August 19, 2011.[3]
On January 25, 2013, Marshall was named the defensive coordinator of the Edmonton Eskimos.
Marshall served as the defensive coordinator for Queen's Gaels football from 2014 to 2017.[4] His defense found success throughout his tenure, including an OUA conference leading 16 fumble recoveries in 2014[5] and the conference's second best pass defense in 2016.[6]
On January 3, 2018, Marshall became the head coach for the Toronto Varsity Blues football team of U Sports.[7] After missing the playoffs for two seasons followed by a cancelled 2020 season, he led the Varsity Blues to a playoff berth in 2021 with a 3–3 record. In the following season, he led the team to a 4–4 record and a second consecutive playoff appearance, but the Varsity Blues lost again in the quarter-finals. After regressing to a 2–6 record in 2023, it was announced on November 23, 2023, that Marshall would not return as the team's head coach.[8]
On April 10, 2024, it was announced that Marshall had been hired as the defensive line coach for the Ottawa Redblacks.[9]
CFL coaching record
edit| Team | Year | Regular Season | Post Season | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Won | Lost | Ties | Win % | Finish | Won | Lost | Result | |||
| SSK | 2011 | 1 | 7 | 0 | .125 | 4th in West Division | - | - | Fired | |
| Total | 1 | 7 | 0 | .125 | 0 West Division Championships |
- | - | |||
Personal life
editMarshall and his wife, Cindy, have four children and one grandson.
References
edit- ^ "Hamilton Tiger-Cats".
- ^ "Roughriders confirm Marshall as head coach". Archived from the original on November 8, 2012.
- ^ "Roughriders fire head coach Marshall, Berry after 1-7 start". Archived from the original on September 10, 2011.
- ^ "Greg Marshall - Football Coach".
- ^ "OUA". Archived from the original on September 24, 2014.
- ^ "Ontario University Athletics (OUA)". Archived from the original on September 19, 2017.
- ^ "Marshall to lead football team in 2018". Toronto Varsity Blues. December 27, 2017.
- ^ "U of T begins search for new head coach". Toronto Varsity Blues. November 23, 2023.
- ^ "Redblacks bring Greg Marshall on as d-line coach". Canadian Football League. April 10, 2024.