Stampeders DC DeVone Claybrooks interviews for Alouettes head coaching job

Alouettes general manager Kavis Reed flew to Calgary on Monday to interview Stampeders defensive coordinator DeVone Claybrooks about Montreal’s vacant head coach position, per sources.

Reed received permission from the Stamps organization to talk to Claybrooks and the fact that Reed flew to Calgary on Grey Cup week to woo Claybooks would seem to indicate that he’s Reed’s top pick for the job.

A former defensive lineman, Claybrooks played for Montreal in 2007 and 2008. The 40-year-old coach currently calls the shots for the stingiest defence in the league that ranks No. 1 in many of the major statistical categories while Montreal allowed the most points in the CFL (580). The Virginia native inked a three-year extension with the Stamps last winter that takes him through the 2019 season, which means he’s secure in Calgary.

Montreal lost 11 straight games to finish the 2017 season finished at 3-15, the worst record in the league. The Alouettes scored a league-low 314 points and were the only team to average less than 20 points per game (17.4).

Since Marc Trestman left for the NFL in 2013, Montreal there have been five different head coaches in La Belle Province: Dan Hawkins, Jim Popp (twice), Tom Higgins, Jacques Chapdelaine and Kavis Reed. Over that span, the Alouettes have a 33-55 record and have missed the playoffs for a third consecutive season, tying a franchise-worst streak.