He broke into the coaching ranks in 1993 at Maine Maritime Academy where he served as the receivers and tight ends coach on a 9–1 team that won the NEFC and ECAC championship.[2] The next year, he coached receivers at Western Connecticut State University. He left to become the receivers coach at the University of New Hampshire for the next two seasons (1995–1996).[3] In 1997, he was named the quarterbacks and receivers coach at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.[2] The following year, he was promoted to offensive coordinator where his offences broke 21 offensive school records in two seasons (1998–1999). In 1998, tailback Krishaun Gilmore was named UCAA and ECAC Player of the Year and a first team all American selection and finished second in the nation in rushing under LaPolice.[4] The next year, quarterback Matt Robbens was also named UCAA and ECAC Player of the Year making the second in two years under LaPolice, as he led Rensselear to an undefeated regular season.[5]
In 2004 he joined the Hamilton Tiger-Cats as the team's receivers coach and stayed with the team for two years until rejoining the Toronto Argonauts, again, as the receivers coach. After former Argos' offensive coordinator Kent Austin was hired as head coach of the Saskatchewan Roughriders, LaPolice joined him as that team's receivers coach. After Austin left the team and Roughrider offensive coordinator Ken Miller was promoted to head coach, LaPolice was, in turn, promoted to offensive coordinator in 2008.[7] The team finished 12–6 in 2008 and lost in the first round of the playoffs. In 2009, the Roughriders finished in first place in the West Division for the first time in 33 years, won the West final and lost in the Grey Cup final to the Montreal Alouettes on the last play. LaPolice's offence finished second in scoring and in touchdowns scored as he helped first year starting quarterback Darian Durant to a Western Division All Star nomination.
On February 5, 2010, LaPolice was hired as the 28th head coach of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.[7][9] His first season as head coach of the Blue Bombers saw the team win only four games and miss the playoffs while setting a CFL record for most losses by four points or less (nine times).[10] The following year, the LaPolice helped to orchestrate one of the biggest turnarounds in CFL history as the Blue Bombers finished first place in their Division for the first time since 2001. The team also earned a berth in the Grey Cup, but lost to the BC Lions in the championship game. LaPolice was named a finalist for the CFL Coach of the Year in 2011 and given a contract extension during the offseason. However, after the club's poor start to the 2012 season, LaPolice was relieved of coaching duties by general manager Joe Mack midway through the season.[9]
After three years as a broadcaster, LaPolice returned to coaching as he re-joined the Winnipeg Blue Bombers as their offensive coordinator, marking his third stint with the team.[11][2] The Bombers led the CFL in points scored in 2017 and tailback Andrew Harris was named Most Outstanding Canadian in the CFL. The team again led the CFL in a number of offensive categories including Points scored, Offensive Points, TDs scored and rushing yards per game. In January 2019, the Roughriders requested to interview LaPolice for their vacant head coaching position, but the Bombers refused to grant them permission.[12] LaPolice would go on to with the 107th Grey Cup with the Blue Bombers at the conclusion of the 2019 CFL season. The offence led the CFL in rushing again as well as finished 2nd in Scoring while playing three different QBs throughout the season.
On December 7, 2019, it was announced that LaPolice had agreed to a three-year contract to become the head coach of the Ottawa Redblacks.[13] After the 2020 CFL season was cancelled, he led the Redblacks to back-to-back 3–11 records before his dismissal on October 1, 2022.[14]
TSN brought LaPolice on board as a guest analyst for the 2012 playoffs. From 2013 to 2015, LaPolice worked full-time for the CFL on TSN, hosting a segment called the "Coach's Playbook" and appearing occasionally on the TSN panel.[15][2]
Personal life
LaPolice and his wife Tina have three children together. The family resides year-round in Ottawa, Ontario.
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