Dave Dickenson wants to stay loyal to Stampeders: 'I'm going to be back in Calgary next year'

VANCOUVER – Back in the Grey Cup for the second time in three years, Dave Dickenson's success as offensive coordinator for the Stampeders has made him a wanted head coaching commodity across the CFL. However, it appears he's in no rush to leave the place where he's been on the coaching staff since 2009.

"I'm going to be back in Calgary next year," said Dickenson. "It's going to be the same answer tomorrow and the same answer next week."

When the B.C. Lions fired Mike Benevides last week Dickenson was instantly linked with the opening, but it seems increasingly likely Wally Buono and the Lions will have to look elsewhere to fill the role.

"I think last year, when Dave signed a long-term contract with the Calgary Stampeders, it was pretty self-explanatory," head coach John Hufnagel said when asked if there was a plan in place for Dickenson to take over from him in Calgary in the near future. Dickenson was elevated to assistant head coach when he signed a three-year extension last November.

"I'm a very loyal person," said Dickenson. "I gave him my word and when I sign a contract I'm honouring that."

In five seasons as Calgary's offensive coordinator, Dickenson's greatest professional pain was losing the 2012 Grey Cup to the Argonauts. He has his sights set on lifting the trophy this year.

The Stampeders enter Sunday's game as the clear favourite, but the offence, led by quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell and running back Jon Cornish, will be tested Sunday by a physical Tiger-Cats defence. Orlondo Steinauer, Hamilton's defensive coordinator, is also emerging as a potential head coaching candidate in the CFL.

"I want to be a head coach there's no doubt about it, but I really just want to have fun," said Dickenson. "I really enjoy calling the plays. I love this game. I love where I'm at."

Even if a return to B.C., the franchise Dickenson quarterbacked for five years and led to a win in the Grey Cup in 2006 isn't going to happen, it won't be much longer before he gets his opportunity. The way it looks from the outside, odds are it will be in Calgary, and it may come as early as next season.

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Israel Fehr is a writer for Yahoo Canada Sports. Email him at israelfehr@yahoo.ca or follow him on Twitter. Follow @israelfehr