By Jamie Nye

Roughriders hit hard by death of Winnipeg coach

Jul 26, 2011 | 6:13 PM

The Canadian Football League has been rocked by the death of Winnipeg Blue Bombers defensive line coach Richard Harris.

Harris, 63, collapsed at the Blue Bombers facilities at Canad Inns Stadium on Tuesday and was pronounced dead at hospital a short time later.

The death of Harris is hitting the Saskatchewan Roughriders hard as Harris was a very good friend of Head Coach Greg Marshall, Offensive Coordinator Doug Berry, receivers coach Bob Dyce and General Manager Brendan Taman, who all worked with Harris in Winnipeg.

Taman spoke to News Talk Radio a short time after finding out about Harris' death.

“He was such an incredible man. He would make you smile no matter how bad a day you were having … he was one of those guys who would light up a room.”

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Roughriders Head Coach Greg Marshall was a very close friend to Harris and Taman says it's a very sombre day around the league.

“When I worked with (Richard and Greg) in Winnipeg, they were inseparable. They met together, they ate together, they lived together and Greg desperately wanted to get Richard over here this year to be on our staff … Greg and Richard share a lot of things, a lot of the same beliefs on how you deal with players and it's a tough day for Greg, for sure.”

Taman says the team will do all they can to make sure as many people in the organization who want to attend the funeral are able to do so.

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