Jim Popp has stepped down as head coach of the Montreal Alouettes but will remain the team's general manager, the club announced Monday.
Popp served simultaneously as head coach and GM for just over a year. He took over as head coach after Tom Higgins was fired in August 2015. He will now focus solely on the general manager role, where he's built three Grey Cup-winning squads.
Jacques Chapdelaine, who was the team's wide receivers coach and special assistant to the offensive coordinator, will take over as interim coach for the remainder of the 2016 season.
Chapdelaine has held offensive coordinator positions with Calgary, BC, Edmonton, and Saskatchewan, winning three Grey Cups along the way. The 22nd coach in Montreal history, Chapdelaine also led Laval University to its first Vanier Cup in 1999 as head coach.
“Jacques is an excellent football coach; he knows the X's and O's as well as how to get the most out of his personnel. He brings rich experience working with seasoned veterans and teaching talented young players," said owner Bob Wetenhall. "Jacques is the best person to lead an immediate turnaround as we try and make a playoff run.”
Chapdelaine will coach his first game Oct. 2 when Montreal hosts the Toronto Argonauts. The Alouettes sit last in the East, two games behind the Argonauts.
