Eskimos fire GM Danny Maciocia after 1-4 start
EDMONTON - Danny Maciocia paid the price for Edmonton's rough start to the CFL season on Saturday, as the Eskimos relieved him of his duties as general manager and director of football operations.
Maciocia was given the news just a day after the Eskimos picked up their first win of the season with a 28-25 victory over the B.C. Lions.
"Going forward we just didn't see him in our longer-view plans so we proceeded with this action today," Eskimos president Rick LeLacheur said.
The team's coaching staff, including head coach Richie Hall, remain in place.
Maciocia, 43, has been with the Eskimos since 2002. He spent four seasons as head coach before taking on GM and director of football operation duties in 2008.
Maciocia helped Edmonton to Grey Cup victories in 2003 and 2005. LeLacheur said the team will begin a North America-wide search for a new general manager immediately.
"I'm going to find the best football person that we possibly can," LeLacheur said. "If that's next week or next month or after the season, I don't know the timeframe. There is no timeframe as far as I'm concerned right now."
The Eskimos opened the season with a 25-10 loss to the Lions. They followed that with a 33-23 loss to Montreal, a 24-20 loss to Saskatchewan and then a 47-21 drubbing in Winnipeg last week.
After the loss to the Blue Bombers, the Eskimos were read the riot act by LeLacheur, who questioned his team's toughness and promised changes without a reversal of fortune against the Lions.
Edmonton showed some life in the win over B.C., and avoided matching the worst start in team history, an 0-5 run in 1965.
But it wasn't enough to save Maciocia's job.
