The Saskatchewan Roughriders assistant coaches all know their future is now up in the air with Head Coach Ken Miller retiring following the season.

At least two of them, however, would like to stick around and be the field boss if they were granted such an opportunity.

A day after Miller announced his resignation, the media sought out Richie Hall and Craig Dickenson to gauge their interest in the head coaching job.

Both coaches said being a head coach is something they would like to do. For Hall it would be his second crack at leading at team following two years as head coach in Edmonton.

"I think any time you get the opportunity to do that I think it's a special situation. It doesn't define you as far as my career. If so be it, that's good. If it doesn't happen, then it's good also," replied Hall.

Dickenson also understands that nothing is for certain when it comes to getting a chance to be a head coach.

"I feel like an organization does what they feel best for their organization. If I'm part of that, I'm happy. If I'm not, then I understand that as well. I haven't prepared for things that are ahead of me because what's ahead of me is this game against Edmonton. We're still focussed on that and when the offseason comes we'll take it from there."

A special coach

Dickenson has been a highlight of the Roughriders coaching staff this season. His special teams unit has been the most consistent among the three phases of the team.

Miller has definitely noticed and gave Dickenson a ringing endorsement.

"The way he organizes. The way he prepares. The rapport he has with players. His ability to evaluate and motivate. All of those things would indicate that he is a serious candidate at some time in the near future."

Dickenson's energy is something else that puts a charge into the players he coaches.

"When you go into his meetings, we have a lot of media. We have smart boards and we have video and he's able to move back and forth between those things in a seamless way. In his meetings the players are very attentive because of how he instructs, his enthusiasm and the message he's teaching."

As for a secret tonic that keeps his energy on high on a daily bases, Coach Miller isn't sure what it is but believes he knows one thing about his coordinator.

"He would have been a handful as a sixth grader, I can tell you that."

Though Dickenson knows his tenure in Saskatchewan could very well last only a season, he's grown to love the city and the province.

"I ride my bike to work every day. I like the fact it's a small community, a pretty tight knit group. I'd like to come back. Hopefully I'll be able to."

Round two

For Richie Hall, there's no question about his passion for Saskatchewan.

The long-time coordinator has spent the past two decades as a player and coach in Saskatchewan, with the exception of the two years he was the head coach of the Edmonton Eskimos in 2009/10.

Hall says he wouldn't say no to a chance at a redo after things didn't work out with the Eskimos.

"I think there's always something that you'd do differently in regards to the experience that you got. Every situation is different. At the same time, fundamentally I would stay the same. Just some things on how you handle some things. I could do a better job on that."

Although there are a lot of chips to fall before the team starts the interview process to find another coach to secede Miller, there are two viable candidates who already have an office at Mosaic Stadium.

Edited by News Talk Radio's Karen Brownlee.