EDMONTON – Four-time CFL All-Star and two-time Grey Cup Champion linebacker A.J. Gass is joining the Golden Bears football coaching staff for the 2021 season.
 
Gass is joining the Golden Bears as a defensive consultant, and will work with the program's linebackers and special teams units.
 
The Bellflower, California native spent his entire professional career playing with the Edmonton Football Team (1998-2007), helping the Green & Gold capture the Grey Cup in 2003 and 2005. Gass spent eight of those years playing alongside Bears head coach Chris Morris.
 
In 131 career CFL games, Gass amassed 440 defensive tackles, 92 special teams tackles, 12 sacks, eight forced fumbles, 22 tackles for losses, and three interceptions.
 
"A.J. is another outstanding addition to our coaching staff. He brings invaluable experience to us both on the defensive side of the ball, as well as to our special teams units," said Morris, who is entering his 9^th season as head coach of the Bears. "On top of being an incredibly knowledgeable and experienced coach, we could not have brought in a better person to help mentor the young men in our program than.
 
AJ and his family have solid roots in Edmonton and he has been a pillar of our community since his arrival in Edmonton many years ago now. The young men in our program have gained yet another valuable resource in helping them develop into well rounded members of our community who approach the game of football with a passion that will be difficult to match."
 
Following his retirement from the CFL in 2008, Gass transitioned into coaching, spending the 2008 season as a defensive consultant with Edmonton, before spending five years, including three as their head coach, with the Servite High School Friars program in Anaheim, California.
 
Gass would return to the Edmonton Football Team in 2019 as the team's special teams coordinator.
 
The Golden Bears will open their 2021 training camp on August 13^th, with a non-conference game scheduled against the Regina Rams for September 12^th in Medicine Hat.
 
They will begin their Canada West season on September 25^th, when they host the UBC Thunderbirds at Foote Field (1:00 p.m. MT).
 
They will also host the Manitoba Bisons (Oct. 1), and Regina Rams (Oct. 30) this season at Foote Field.