The Manitoba Bisons football team is pleased to announce the addition of former CFL (Canadian Football League) offensive lineman player Obby Khan to the coaching staff for the 2012 season.

Khan will work with the offensive line and assist long-serving Bison offensive line coach Terry Watson.

“Bison Football is certainly excited to have this opportunity to bring Obby onto the coaching staff,” head coach Brian Dobie said. “As we begin the 2012 season, Obby has been a long time friend of mine and our coaching staff and has also been a mentor to our Bison players. His commitment to our community has been exceptional and true to his character that he adds knowledge and experience from his lengthy CFL career by joining our program at University of Manitoba.”

Khan, 31, announced his retirement from playing professional football on April 25, 2012, after eight seasons in the CFL with the last six seasons with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

Khan started playing high school football at Sir Wilfrid Laurier High School in Orleans, Ont., and then received an Academic and Athletic Scholarship to Simon Fraser University (SFU) in 1999. He graduated from SFU in 2004 with a BSC in Kinesiology.

In his eight-year CFL career, Khan played in 118 games as well as two playoff games and the 99th Grey Cup. In addition, he was a three-time recipient of the Cal Murphy Heart of a Legend Award, an honour that is voted on by his teammates and goes to the Blue Bomber player who best demonstrates outstanding sportsmanship and dedication to the CFL and community.“I am very excited to be part of the Bison Football coaching staff,” Khan said. “I think this is going to be a great challenge, adventure and experience. I have been involved with the University of Manitoba for the past couple years and I have forged a relationship with many people around the school including coach Dobie and the other coaches. I think this is the next natural progression in my life from being a football player to now being a coach. I think I can give a lot back to the kids on the team and I look forward to just sharing my knowledge and experience with them.”