The Saskatchewan Roughriders have filled five coaching vacancies—running backs coach, defensive line coach, offensive line coach, receivers coach and offensive assistant.
The most familiar name for fans of the Green and Wheat is Naaman Roosevelt, who was a wide receiver for the Riders between 2015 and 2019.
Here are the biographies of all five new additions to the coaching staff:
ANDRÉ BOLDUC – Run Game Coordinator and Running Backs Coach
Bolduc joins the Roughriders with 22 years of coaching experience, most recently spending nine seasons with the Montreal Alouettes as Assistant Coach and working with the running backs. In 2021, the Alouettes, anchored by running back William Stanbeck, led the league in rushing yards with a team total 2,023. Over his time in Montreal, he also served as Assistant Offensive Coordinator, Receiver Coach, as well as Special Teams Assistant Coach. Prior to the Alouettes, Bolduc was a successful collegiate level coach spending time with the Université de Montréal, Collège Montmorency and the University of Sherbrooke. The Quebec native also enjoyed a six-year CFL career (1996-2001) with Ottawa, Edmonton and Montreal.
DEL COWSETTE – Defensive Line Coach
Cowsette brings 16 years of collegiate coaching to the Roughriders defensive line. He has a strong resume of developing defensive linemen and coaching top performers and all-conference stars. Most recently at the Air Force Academy, Cowsette coached three first-time starters to success on the defensive line, including a senior who flipped from the offensive line and went on to lead the Falcons in tackles for loss and sacks. Prior to the Air Force, the Ohio native coached at his alma matter, the University of Maryland, the University of Albany, Hampton University and in the UFL, where he helped the Virginia Destroyers win the UFL Championship.
As player, Cowsette was a four-year standout at Maryland (1996-99) earning first team All-ACC honors and remains 12th all-time in the Maryland record books with 31 tackles for loss. Cowsette was drafted by the Washington Commanders and played for the New York Giants, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Chicago Bears from 2000-06.
NAAMAN ROOSEVELT – Offensive Assistant
A familiar face to Rider fans, Roosevelt joins the coaching staff full time after attending 2022 training camp as a guest coach. The popular former receiver spent nearly all of his six-year CFL career in Green and White, suiting up for 67 games between 2015 and 2019. Over that time, he recorded 301 receptions for 4,134 yards and 20 touchdowns and was noted in the locker room for his hard work and discipline. Prior to the CFL, Roosevelt spent four seasons in the NFL, suiting up for 20 games, earning 396 yards receiving and scoring one touchdown. The Buffalo, New York native played at his hometown school – the University of Buffalo, where he earned 3,551 yards and 28 touchdowns over four seasons and was named All-MAC in 2007 and 2008.
DREW TATE – Receivers Coach
After ten years as a CFL quarterback, and three seasons away from the league, Drew Tate returns to the Roughriders as the Club’s receivers coach. Since his retirement from the CFL in 2018, Tate has served as a coach in both the collegiate and professional ranks, most recently as the tight ends coach at the University of Northern Iowa. During the 2021 season, he was the quarterbacks coach at UT Martin. He spent the 2020 season as the running backs, receivers, and tight ends coach with the Spring League’s Alphas and was the quarterbacks coach for the B.C. Lions in 2019.
The Texas native is a two-time Grey Cup champion (2007, 2014) and played 147 CFL games completing 410-of-615 pass attempts for 5,008 yards, 35 touchdowns, 16 interceptions and added 162 carries for 629 yards and 24 touchdowns. An accomplished collegiate quarterback at the University of Iowa, Tate was named the MVP of Capital One Bowl in 2005 and to the All-Big Ten First Team in 2004.
ANTHONY VITALE – Offensive Line Coach
Vitale joins the Club with more than 10 years of collegiate and professional coaching experience, most recently spending the 2022 season as the offensive line coach for the Edmonton Elks. Vitale, however, is no stranger to the Green and White, where he participated as a guest coach at Training Camp from 2017-2019. Prior to the CFL, he spent one season offensive coordinator/offensive line coach at Eastern New Mexico University. He has been a vital part of program turnarounds including at Delaware State (2018-2020), lifting the team from last to second in the MEAC in rushing offense and reducing the number of sacks by 60% from the 2017 season. He also helped improve South Baptist University (2013-18) over his time there, seeing the team go from 1-10 in 2013 to 10-2 and a national ranking of 17th in 2016.
