Music: {allcanada} JONES JOINS BENEVIDES AS LIONS' OFFENSIVE CO-ORDINATOR

Monday, December 23, 2013

{allcanada} JONES JOINS BENEVIDES AS LIONS' OFFENSIVE CO-ORDINATOR

Merry Christmas, Baby - Rod Stewart

VANCOUVER - The B.C. Lions named Khari Jones as their new offensive co-ordinator Monday.

Jones joins the Lions after two seasons as the quarterbacks coach with the Grey Cup-champion Saskatchewan Roughriders.

"Khari is a young, fresh football mind that brings a key combination of significant playing and coaching experience to the role of offensive co-ordinator," Lions head coach Mike Benevides said in a statement. "After a number of conversations with Khari over the past couple of weeks, I am very excited about his positive approach to the game, the offensive concepts he will bring to our offence and how they will translate on the field."

Prior to joining the Riders, Jones served as Hamilton's offensive co-ordinator in 2011. Jones began his CFL coaching career as the Ticats' quarterbacks coach in '09.

Jones began his CFL playing career as a quarterback with the Lions in '97 before being dealt to Winnipeg in 2000. In 2001, Jones was named the league's outstanding player after guiding the Bombers to a 14-4 regular-season record.

Jones also played for Calgary (2004) and Hamilton (2005) and twice went to training camp with Edmonton before joining CBC's CFL broadcast crew in 2006.

"It's an honour to return to the same organization that gave me an opportunity to play in this great league many years ago," said Jones. "There is a tremendous nucleus of great offensive players here led by Travis Lulay, who I believe is one of the elite quarterbacks in our league.

"I'm elated to be working with Mike as well as everyone on the offensive staff and I can't wait to get started on building a champion in B.C."

Merry Christmas II You - Mariah Carey