Elks hire 2 new coaches, finalize staff for 2026

Edmonton Elks head coach Mark Kilam looks on before CFL football action against the Saskatchewan Roughriders in Regina, on Friday, July 25, 2025.

Two new faces will join the Edmonton Elks’ sidelines this coming season.

The Canadian Football League team announced Thursday that Jabari Arthur and Cedric Douglas will join its coaching staff for 2026.

The Elks also promoted Des Catellier to the position of special teams coach after he served as the unit’s assistant last year. It’ll be the fourth year in the coaching ranks for Catellier, a former standout quarterback for the University of Manitoba Bisons. Before joining Edmonton’s staff under head coach Mark Kilam last season, he spent 2023 and 2024 with the Calgary Stampeders.

Arthur joins the Elks as running backs coach after eight seasons on the coaching staff of the University of Calgary Dinos, most recently as offensive coordinator. The Montreal native and former receiver with the Stampeders and Winnipeg Blue Bombers takes over from the outgoing Trysten Dyce.

Douglas is the new defensive line coach, replacing Demetrious Maxie. The American started his coaching career a year after his collegiate playing days for Northern Michigan as an outside linebacker and defensive end ended in 2011, first at the high school level then in the NCAA starting in 2019 at the University of Massachusetts. Douglas spent last season as defensive line coach at Georgia Southern.