The Hamilton Tiger-Cats have fired head coach Greg Marshall, three days after the team dropped to 0-4 on the season for the second year in a row.
Ron Lancaster, who serves as the Senior Director of Football Operations, will assume the role of interim head coach.
"This was a very very tough decision." said owner Bob Young in a statement. "His contributions to the organization, the Hamilton community and to our fans can not be understated. I have great admiration and respect for Greg but after careful consideration it was in the best interest of the organization to make a change. Ron and assistant head coach Joe Paopao will have a full-set of resources to improve our success on the field."
Marshall was hired before the 2004 season as the first Canadian Football League coach ever to step directly out of the Canadian University ranks.
His rookie year was an overwhelming success, with Hamilton going from 1-17 in 2003 to 8-9-1 and a playoff berth the next season. Marshall was named the CFL's coach of the year.
Last season, however, the team got off to an 0-8 start.
Owner Bob Young committed to Marshall this past off-season by handing him a one-year contract extension through the 2007 season.
When the Tiger-Cats made significant changes to upgrade talent on their roster, expectations were that the team would be significantly better in 2006.
But Hamilton has looked poor during its first four losses, especially on offence where it ranks last in the CFL.
This will be Lancaster's second stint as head coach for the Ticats. The two-time Coach of the Year is the fourth winningest CFL coach in history with 138 wins including two Grey Cup victories. In his first stint with the Tiger-Cats, Hamilton finished five of the six seasons .500 or better including a 1999 Grey Cup victory.
"I hope my years of experience can help deliver the leadership necessary to help benefit the club in its current situation," said Lancaster. "I will assume the position of head coach for the remainder of the season or step down as soon as the right person is found."
Ron Lancaster, who serves as the Senior Director of Football Operations, will assume the role of interim head coach.
"This was a very very tough decision." said owner Bob Young in a statement. "His contributions to the organization, the Hamilton community and to our fans can not be understated. I have great admiration and respect for Greg but after careful consideration it was in the best interest of the organization to make a change. Ron and assistant head coach Joe Paopao will have a full-set of resources to improve our success on the field."
Marshall was hired before the 2004 season as the first Canadian Football League coach ever to step directly out of the Canadian University ranks.
His rookie year was an overwhelming success, with Hamilton going from 1-17 in 2003 to 8-9-1 and a playoff berth the next season. Marshall was named the CFL's coach of the year.
Last season, however, the team got off to an 0-8 start.
Owner Bob Young committed to Marshall this past off-season by handing him a one-year contract extension through the 2007 season.
When the Tiger-Cats made significant changes to upgrade talent on their roster, expectations were that the team would be significantly better in 2006.
But Hamilton has looked poor during its first four losses, especially on offence where it ranks last in the CFL.
This will be Lancaster's second stint as head coach for the Ticats. The two-time Coach of the Year is the fourth winningest CFL coach in history with 138 wins including two Grey Cup victories. In his first stint with the Tiger-Cats, Hamilton finished five of the six seasons .500 or better including a 1999 Grey Cup victory.
"I hope my years of experience can help deliver the leadership necessary to help benefit the club in its current situation," said Lancaster. "I will assume the position of head coach for the remainder of the season or step down as soon as the right person is found."
