Getting to transition into coaching immediately following his playing career, Kristian Matte knows he’s one of the lucky ones.
But Matte, the former offensive lineman who retired from the Alouettes last December following 14 seasons with the team, is disappointed he couldn’t remain with the organization. Instead, he was hired on Feb. 26 to become the B.C. Lions’ running backs coach.
“With the logo tattooed to my heart, I’d love to be here and at home,” Matte told The Gazette on Monday. “As a career, I was able to stay in one place when many players don’t get to do that. At the same time yes, there was a sting at first when I realized this wasn’t going to materialize. But when one door closes, another opens.
“It’s one of those things and obviously I signed somewhere else. This is a new chapter.”
Matte knew the 2024 season would be his last as a player, telling his contacts throughout the CFL he would be interested in coaching. And he reiterated that point to Als management during his exit meeting in November following the East Division final loss to Toronto. The Als however already have a running backs coach — Dave Jackson is entering his third season with the team — and no other positions were open on head coach Jason Maas’s staff.
“There was no real space available and I had to move on,” said Matte, 39, a St-Hubert native who was selected seventh overall by the Als in 2010 after playing collegiately for the Concordia Stingers.
While Matte has no association with Buck Pierce, the Lions’ new head coach and offensive coordinator, he was recommended by Paul Charbonneau, B.C.’s offensive-line coach who was with Montreal in 2016 and ‘17.
Pierce called the hiring of Matte a valuable addition.
“His success as a player combined with his extensive knowledge of the running game will go a long way in elevating our offence,” he said at the time.
Matte said his conversations with Pierce were natural and comfortable. He also believes he’ll have a solid rapport with the players, given his age and recent retirement, and should be able to relate to them.
“When you retire, the biggest thing you miss is being on the field, being with the guys,” said Matte, who played 190 regular-season games with the Als, winning Grey Cups in 2010 and ‘23. “This is a natural transition to still be there on the field with the guys; give my knowledge to the next generation of players.
“I wanted to stay in the game and still have more to give,” he added. “I found the right fit, with people that are excited to have me. It’s very exciting. It’s a new chapter. With my experience, I feel like I have a lot to give back.”
Matte signed a one-year contract with B.C. and will live alone in Surrey, near the team’s practice facility, during the season while his wife and two children remain in Montreal. CFL teams have three bye weeks in the schedule and there will be other opportunities to reconnect. The Lions are in Montreal on July 5, two months before they travel to Ottawa.
If Matte couldn’t coach the Lions’ line, he believes mentoring the tailbacks is the next closest parallel. The two positions work closely together on most offensive plays.
“In reality, 90 per cent of the protection schemes are six, including the running back,” Matte said. “The communication brought from a guy that played on the offensive line, the mentality, it’s something that can help. We all have to be on the same page. We always prided ourselves that the running backs knew what we were thinking. Being a guy that just finished playing, I’ll be able to maybe influence them to know what everyone’s thinking about. I think it’s a natural transition.”
Matte understands the scope of what he has undertaken. Coaching involves long hours and tedious days. It’s not uncommon for coaches to work six days each week. But he appears to be in this for the long haul and would like to advance his career in time.
“I’m a football guy; that’s what I love doing,” he said. “There are so many different things you can do in football, other than being a player. I want to build my portfolio. There’s coaching, scouting, upper management. It’s all intertwined. Right now I wanted to be a coach. This is the first chapter. We’ll see where it takes us.”