Alouettes hire veteran Kavis Reed as special teams coach

MONTREAL - The Montreal Alouettes hired Kavis Reed as their special teams co-ordinator Monday.

Reed, 41, served as the Edmonton Eskimos head coach from 2011-'13. Reed played five seasons as a defensive back with Edmonton ('95-'99) and has spent 13 years overall as a coach in the league.

Alouettes head coach Tom Higgins also handled special-teams duties last season.

"Having Kavis on our coaching staff is a great addition for the Alouettes," Higgins said in a statement. "He brings fire and passion to our team, as well as plenty of experience to our staff in place. All of our coaches are excited to get to work with him."

Reed, began his CFL coaching career in '01 as the Toronto Argonauts special-teams co-ordinator and defensive backs coach. Reed then coached the defensive backs with the Ottawa Renegades (2002-'03) before becoming the Hamilton Tiger-Cats defensive co-ordinator (2004-'06).

He was a defensive assistant coach with Toronto in '07 before being named their defensive co-ordinator the following season.

Reed joined the Saskatchewan Roughriders' staff as a special-teams/defensive backs coach in '09. The Montreal Alouettes beat the Riders 28-27 in the Grey Cup that year, thanks to Saskatchewan being flagged for too many men on kicker Damon Duval's errant 43-yard field-goal attempt.

Duval converted the second chance, hitting from 33 yards out as time ran out to give Montreal the narrow victory.

Reed joined the Winnipeg Blue Bombers' defensive co-ordinator in 2010 before being hired by Edmonton.