Music: {allcanada} ETCHEVERRY RESIGNS FROM ROUGHRIDERS COACHING STAFF

The Saskatchewan Roughriders made major coaching changes in the off-season and another one occurred less than a week from the start of training camp.

Former defensive co-ordinator Gary Etcheverry resigned after four seasons with the team to pursue a "business opportunity and concentrate on family considerations," according to the club.

Etcheverry was the team's defensive co-ordinator the past two seasons, but with the hiring of Richie Hall to that position, Etcheverry's role was reduced to assistant defensive coach.

"He didn't want this perceived as a problem because of a change in his responsibilities," new head coach Greg Marshall said Thursday during a media conference call. "This was a personal decision based on some things away from football."

Etcheverry's departure was unexpected so there is no immediate replacement, Marshall said.

Saskatchewan's coaching staff was overhauled in the off-season with the addition of six new men including Marshall, who has been a defensive co-ordinator with five different CFL clubs during his career.

Hall is a quasi-newcomer as he was on Saskatchewan's coaching staff for 15 years before a two-year stint as Edmonton's head coach.

Craig Dickenson, who spent last year with the NFL's Oakland Raiders, is now the special teams coach, Steve Buratto came from Hamilton to oversee the offensive line, Bill MacDermott is the running backs coach and Mike Walker is responsible for the defensive line.

Ken Miller, the 'Riders' head coach the last three years, remained with the club as vice-president of football operations.

Where Marshall is especially pleased to have continuity at offensive co-ordinator. Doug Berry returns to the team for a second season. The head coach feels quarterback Darian Durant will be a prime beneficiary from that familiarity.

"Hopefully we can hit the ground running and not have to go through the feeling-out process that has maybe happened over the course of Darian's four or five years here," Marshall said. "He always seemed to have a different co-ordinator, so hopefully that continuity will help him."

CFL rookie camps open June 1 and main camps five days later. Saskatchewan hosts Edmonton in a pre-season game June 17 and is B.C. on June 22. The Roughriders' season-opener is at home July 3 versus Edmonton.

Runners-up to the Montreal Alouettes the last two straight Grey Cup games, 'Rider Nation hopes Marshall is the man to get them over the hump to a title.

"I have tremendous respect for Greg having coached against him during my time in the CFL," Miller said. "During the time he's been here, he's demonstrated his enthusiasm, his ability to organize. We're just looking forward to getting out on the field and demonstrating his leadership out there.

"We feel Greg is going to be tremendous in the locker-room. He has a reputation for being a players' coach, being fair and being calm."

Durant has been Saskatchewan's starting quarterback for three seasons. While the 28-year-old has taken the Roughriders to the Grey Cup game the last two, Marshall feels there is more to be extracted from Durant.

"I'm excited to see Darian take another step forward," Marshall said. "He's nowhere near the ceiling yet. He's got a big upside to him.

"He has great athletic ability. I feel with the limited time he's had compared with some of the other top-notch quarterbacks in this league, I think there's a lot more there for Darian."

One question mark for the 'Riders heading into training camp is finding a replacement for Durant's favourite target, all-star receiver Andy Fantuz, who signed a contract with the NFL's Chicago Bears in the off-season.

Marshall is looking to local product Jordan Sisco, veteran Canadian Jason Clermont and import Obed Cetoute as candidates either individually or by committee to fill the large void in Fantuz's absence.

"The good thing about it is, it happened now during the off-season where the coaching staff has had a chance to adjust and Darian is going to have the opportunity to go through all of training camp and the pre-season with the current group of receivers that we'll have," Marshall said. "If it happened in the middle of the season because of injury, now it would probably be a more radical adjustment for him."

Another Saskatchewan subplot is its kicking situation as the reliable Luca Congi required knee surgery in the off-season. Training camp will test the fitness of Congi's leg. Meanwhile, the Roughriders will see if colourful punter Eddie Johnson can handle all kicking duties.

Off the field, the Roughriders remain an in-demand ticket in their market. Temporary seats are again being added to Mosaic Stadium to bring capacity up to about 30,000 and the club is expecting a sellout season, according to president and CEO Jim Hopson.

The 'Riders also await word from the City of Regina on a new stadium. The city is pursuing inner-city development plans that include demolishing the aging Mosaic Stadium to make way for a new football field.

"We think it's going to happen, but we're just not sure of the timing," Hopson said. "It is frustrating because we've been having this conversation for some years now, but it's a very large project.

"Our city council, mayor and our province have said they're very supportive. (There's)a lot of interest in the private sector so we hope in the next few months we get a clear picture of where we're going."