MONTREAL - The Montreal Alouettes have added another big name to their coaching staff in an effort to revive their struggling offence.
The team announced Monday that former CFL and NFL quarterback Jeff Garcia has joined the organization. The club said it has yet to decide on a specific role for Garcia, but the four-time CFL all-star and NFL Pro Bowl selection will certainly be counted on to try and turn around an offence that has scored a league low 75 points so far this season.
"After several discussions with (coach Tom Higgins) about candidates who could potentially help our offence right now, we welcome Jeff to our organization and to the offensive coaching staff," Alouettes general manager Jim Popp said in a statement. "He brings tremendous experience, great leadership, competitiveness, and the drive to be the best. We feel that by tapping into Jeff's knowledge, he will be another key addition in getting our season turned around."
The announcement comes a week after the Alouettes hired CFL Hall of Fame coach Don Matthews and former NFL quarterback and offensive co-ordinator Turk Schonert as consultants. It was clear more help was needed after the Alouettes were pasted 31-5 at home by the Toronto Argonauts on Friday.
Garcia joined the Calgary Stampeders in 1994 as a backup to Doug Flutie. He went on to throw for more than 4,000 yards in three different seasons with Calgary, and was named the most valuable player of the Stampeders' 26-24 win over Hamilton in the 1998 Grey Cup.
Following Calgary's championship year Garcia moved to the NFL, where he played for 11 seasons with San Francisco, Cleveland, Detroit, Philadelphia and Tampa Bay.
