Roughriders complete 2026 coaching lineup with Josh Bell defensive coordinator hire

The Saskatchewan Roughriders have promoted defensive backs coach and pass game coordinator Josh Bell to defensive coordinator, completing their coaching staff for the 2026 season.

Bell, 41, is a Los Angeles native and a long-time colleague of head coach Corey Mace, having worked alongside him with both the Calgary Stampeders and Toronto Argonauts. A former CFL defensive back, Bell spent six seasons in the league with the B.C. Lions and Stampeders, earning an All-West Division selection in 2015. He is also a Super Bowl champion with the Green Bay Packers and has captured three Grey Cups — one as a player and two as a coach.

Over the past two seasons, Mace handled defensive coordinator duties in addition to serving as head coach. With Bell stepping into the role, Jordan Linnen has been promoted from defensive assistant to defensive backs coach.

Saskatchewan is coming off a historic 2025 campaign, finishing first in the West Division with a 12–6 record — their first division title since 2019. The Roughriders went on to defeat the Montreal Alouettes in the 112th Grey Cup in Winnipeg, securing the franchise’s first championship in 12 years. Quarterback Trevor Harris posted an 11–5 record as a starter, throwing for 4,549 yards, 24 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions.

The Riders ranked second league-wide in both net offence and net defence, while finishing tied for third in turnover differential at plus-eight. A.J. Ouellette led the ground game with 1,222 rushing yards, KeeSean Johnson paced receivers with 1,159 yards, and A.J. Allen topped the defence with 91 tackles. The club also ranked second in CFL attendance, averaging 28,427 fans per game — a 2.7 percent increase year over year.

The Roughriders also announced the hiring of Jeff Stusek as assistant special teams coach, replacing Jeff Higgins. A University of Regina product, Stusek served as a team board member from 2010 to 2019 and has coached the Rams since 2017 in multiple roles, including receivers coach, special teams coordinator, and assistant head coach. He has also been heavily involved in Saskatchewan minor football, serving as head coach of Team Saskatchewan in 2018 and 2019, leading the program to back-to-back Football Canada Cups.

Aside from Bell’s promotion, Stusek’s addition, and Micah Johnson’s previously announced move to defensive line coach, the remainder of Saskatchewan’s coaching staff remains unchanged from 2025.

2026 Saskatchewan Roughriders coaching staff:

• Head coach — Corey Mace

• Offensive coordinator — Marc Mueller

• Defensive coordinator — Josh Bell

• Special teams coordinator — Kent Maugeri

• Offensive line coach — Edwin Harrison

• Receivers coach — Marquay McDaniel

• Running backs coach — Andrew Harris

• Offensive assistant — Josh Donnelly

• Run game coordinator / linebackers coach — Travis Brown

• Defensive line coach — Micah Johnson

• Defensive backs coach — Jordan Linnen

• Assistant special teams coach — Jeff Stusek