Tiger-Cats fire Taaffe

Sep 8, 2008 - 10:12 PM HAMILTON, Ontario (Ticker) -- The Hamilton Tiger-Cats fired coach Charlie Taaffe on Monday and handed the reigns to offensive coordinator Marcel Bellefeuille on an interim basis for the remainder of the season.

After finishing last season with a league-worst 3-15 record, Hamilton has won just two of its first 10 games this campaign. The Tiger-Cats were soundly defeated, 35-12, at the hands of the B.C. Lions on Saturday.

"I've never been a big fan of making coaching changes in mid-season," general manager Bob O'Billovich said. "But looking ahead to where we are and where we want to be, I felt this is something I had to do."

Taaffe, a two-time CFL Coach of the Year, was hired by Hamilton in December 2006. The team has not appeared in the Grey Cup since winning the league championship in 1999.

"Obviously this is a bittersweet day," Bellefeuille said. "I've always wanted to have the opportunity to be a head coach in the Canadian Football League, but it's a difficult day for me to see a good man go."