Marcel Desjardins

Assistant General Manager 

2011 - Marcel Desjardins begins his fourth season back in Montreal and his ninth as Assistant General Manager after spending the 2007 season as general manager of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.

He previously served as the Montreal’s assistant director of football operations following his arrival in Montreal in April 1999. Prior to joining the Alouettes, he worked at the Canadian Football League head office in Toronto for five years.

During his time at the CFL from 1994 through 1999, he was responsible for the coordination of all player personnel-related matters, including the Canadian college draft and the CFL evaluation camp. He also managed the league’s daily transactions and ensured all player contracts submitted to the league for registration adhered to the Collective Bargaining Agreement. He was in regular contact with all CFL member clubs, as well as the player personnel offices of the NFL, NFLE and the AFL with respect to player movement.

Together with General Manager Jim Popp, Desjardins is responsible for the smooth day-to-day management of the football operations side of the Alouettes. He is involved in all aspects of the Salary Management System and is also responsible for contract negotiations, scouting NFL training camps, CIS football, and a number of NCAA bowl games. He also represents the Alouettes’ football operations at numerous CFL meetings and functions. In 2001 and 2002, he organized the CFL’s evaluation camp for the 40 top-rated Canadian players eligible for the CFL draft.

He holds an honours Bachelor of Commerce degree with a specialization in sports administration from Laurentian University in Sudbury, ON. His experience in the sports industry prior to joining the CFL office included tenures with the Sudbury Wolves of the Ontario Hockey League and the Canada Games Council.

Born and raised in Burlington, Ontario, he is fluent in both French and English, having attended École St-Philippe in Burlington and École secondaire Georges P. Vanier in Hamilton. He and his wife Michelle (née McIntyre), also of Burlington, have been married since 1996.