Elks' Mark Kilam named CFL Coach of the Year finalist after 13-5 season
Kilam turned Edmonton from last place in the West to first in his debut season as head coach.
Edmonton Elks head coach Mark Kilam has been named one of three finalists for the CFL's Coach of the Year award, the league announced Friday. Kilam led the Elks to a 13-5 record and first place in the West Division in his first season at the helm, a dramatic turnaround after the team finished last in the division a year earlier.
He is joined on the finalist list by Montreal's Jason Maas, a finalist for the third straight year and the 2024 winner, who guided the Alouettes to a league-best 14-4 record and first in the East. B.C.'s Buck Pierce, in his second season leading the Lions, rounds out the finalists after a 10-8 record and second-place finish in the West.
The Football Reporters of Canada voted on the finalists, with the winner to be announced at the CFL Combine in Calgary, March 11 to 13. Corey Mace of the Saskatchewan Roughriders won the award last year.
The CFL playoffs begin Saturday with the Toronto Argonauts hosting the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the East semifinal, followed by Saskatchewan visiting B.C. in the West semifinal.
Compiled by the Alberta Daily Desk — an AI-written summary of reporting from the credited sources below, produced and reviewed under our editorial policy.