The Edmonton Elks have unveiled their coaching and football operations staff for the 2026 season, including a few recognizable additions.
While the team’s football operations department remains intact from last season, former CFL linebacker Nic Cross will be joining as a full-time football operations assistant.
Cross was selected in the first round, ninth overall, during the 2021 CFL Draft by the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. He played in 29 games for the team, recording 38 special teams tackles and two defensive stops, before being released in May 2025.
The Regina native concluded his collegiate career at the University of British Columbia, where he was named a first-team U Sports All-Canadian in 2019 after leading the country in tackles. He previously played for the University of Regina, where he won the Peter Gorman Trophy as U Sports’ top rookie in 2017 and was a second-team All-Canadian, but was suspended after testing positive for cannabis and spent the 2018 campaign with the CJFL’s Okanagan Sun.
The Elks also added two members to their coaching staff in running backs coach Jabari Arthur and defensive line coach Cedric Douglas.
3DownNation reported the hiring of Arthur, a former CFL receiver, on February 6. A first-round pick in the 2007 CFL Draft by the Calgary Stampeders, he played eight seasons north of the border and made 97 career receptions for 1,162 yards and six touchdowns in 76 career games. The native of Montreal, Que., has been coaching for the University of Calgary since 2017, serving as the Dinos’ offensive coordinator for the past four seasons.
Douglas last served as defensive line coach for Georgia Southern University in 2025. He previously held jobs at Utah State (2024), University at Buffalo (2021-23), University of Massachusetts (2019-20), Arkansas State (2017-18), Hutchinson Community College (2016), Coffeyville Community College (2015), and Ave Maria University (2013-14). The native of Ypsilanti, Mich., played at Northern Michigan from 2007 to 2011, appearing in 35 games as an outside linebacker and defensive end, while recording 89 tackles, nine sacks, and two interceptions.
Edmonton has also promoted former University of Manitoba quarterback Des Catellier from special teams assistant to special teams coach, while adding Danelle Tucker as a full-time strength & conditioning specialist.
Leaving the Elks are running backs coach and offensive assistant Trysten Dyce and special teams coordinator and defensive assistant Demetrious Maxie, who has since been hired by Toronto.
Edmonton’s complete coaching and football operations staff can be read below.
Ed Hervey – VP of Football Operations and General Manager
Spencer Zimmerman – Sr. Assistant General Manager and Director of Player Personnel
Spencer Boehm – Director, US Scouting
Rich Massaro – Director, Canadian Scouting
Nick Pelletier – Director, Football Operations
Nic Cross – Football Operations Assistant
Brian Cheeseman – Director of Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation
Lisa Swallow – Asst. Athletic Therapist and Physical Therapist
Danelle Tucker – Strength & Conditioning Specialist
Dan Rosnau – Equipment Manager
Shaylee Ford – Video Coordinator
Mark Kilam – Head Coach
Jordan Maksymic – Offensive Coordinator, Assistant Head Coach
J.C. Sherritt – Defensive Coordinator, Linebackers Coach
Stephen Sorrells – Offensive Line Coach, Run Game Coordinator
Jason Tucker – Receivers Coach
Aaron Grymes – Defensive Backs Coach
Des Catellier – Special Teams Coach
Jabari Arthur – Running Backs Coach
Cedric Douglas – Defensive Line Coach
Danny Nesbitt – Defensive Quality Control Coach
Anthony Vitale – Defensive Analyst
The Edmonton Elks finished fifth in the West Division standings in 2025 with a 7-11 record, missing the playoffs for the fifth straight season. Cody Fajardo started the team’s final 13 regular-season games and went 6-7, throwing for 3,408 yards, 14 touchdowns, and seven interceptions. Tre Ford started the first five, going 1-4, and threw for 984 yards, five touchdowns, and three interceptions.
The Elks ranked ninth in net offence, ninth in net defence, and fifth with a turnover differential of plus-four. The club’s leading rusher was Justin Rankin with 1,013 yards, the leading receiver was Kaion Julien-Grant with 820 yards, and the leading tackler was Joel Dublanko with 80 tackles. Edmonton finished seventh in attendance with average crowds of 19,050, which was a 7.1 percent decrease from the previous year.
