Former CFLer Khan joins Manitoba Bisons coaching staff

Obby Khan has decided that its time to get into the coaching ranks.  On Tuesday, the Bisons officially announced that the former CFL star will serve as an offensive line coach with the team.

 

“I’ll be the assistant offensive line coach under coach Terry Watson,” explained Khan in a media scrum after the press conference.  “Terry Watson was a great player and he’s been a great coach for the past couple of years with the Bisons, so it’s to help him out and I think a lot of mentoring of the young guys, showing them the ropes and the older guys, showing them what it takes to get to the next level.”

“I hope I can help.  I’m really excited to be involved with the Bisons and I hope this is a full-time gig for me and we’ll see what happens.  I am looking forward to it.  I’ve been involved with the program for a couple of years and we’ve been talking about it for a couple of years to get me involved.  I think it’s a good time to hopefully make a career change into coaching.”

The native of Ottawa, Ontario played the majority of his nine year CFL career with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.  After six years with the Blue Bombers, he briefly retired from the CFL in April 2012.  However, he came out retirement this past year and had a brief stint with the Calgary Stampeders.  Last month, Khan was released by the team. Khan was the second overall pick in the 2004 CFL Draft by the Ottawa Renegades. IN 2006, he was picked up by the Blue Bombers via the Ottawa Dispersal Draft.

Khan played university football for the Simon Fraser Clan.  During his time with the team, he was awarded the J.P Metras Trophy for top lineman (2003) and was also chosen to play in the East-West Shrine Game (2004).

As for a possible return to the CFL, Khan has not ruled it out.  However, with the opening of his restaurant, the Shawarma Khan this past January, his priorities are the restaurant and the Bisons.

“The full time is the restaurant,” explained Khan.  “Everyone knows that and this is part time.”

“It is 100 percent that I’ll never play in the CFL again?  No and I told Coach Dobie that and the Bisons know what my intentions are with them for this year and we’ll see what happens.”

Being around the young players may in turn help Khan in the future, should he decide to return back to the CFL.

“I think being around these young players, you never know it might rejuvenate some of these old bones and some of the energy these guys have on the field, but like I said, the first and foremost priority is the restaurant that I’ve opened, second is to the Bisons and then we’ll see what happens from there,” commented Khan.  “As of right now, I’m not with any CFL team.”

“I’m a free agent.  I have no desire of going to training camp or playing right now but that being said, if someone gets hurt in week eight, nine or 10 and they need an old veteran who can snap the ball still, I’ll go, but that is way, way in the future.  I’ll be helping out with spring camp, mini camps and working with offensive linemen in the offseason.”

Ultimately, Khan hopes that he will be able share his wealth of knowledge and experience with Bison players so that they will be inspired to pursue CFL dreams themselves.

“I think that the biggest thing is hard work and school,” added Khan.  “I was one of those guys that did very well in school but I was also committed to the gym and training.”

“You have to get your priorities straight.  I hope by me being involved in the program, they can see that “hey, this guy did it, he played in the CIS, went through the draft, he played in the CFL, had his injuries and still made it.” I had a long nine year career. I hope these guys can learn a few things from me and use that to inspire to be CFL players as well.”

Photo credit:  The Canadian Press

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