"All three of these gentlemen had remarkable seasons," said CFL Commissioner Mark Cohon. "They all showed the ability to fight through adversity and turnaround their team's fortunes, exemplifying the leadership that is worthy of this award.
"On behalf of the Board of Governors, our players and our fans, congratulations and good luck to our three nominees."
The winner will be presented the Annis Stukus Trophy on Friday, March 2 at the 51st Coach of the Year celebration held at the Park Hyatt Hotel in Toronto, Ontario.
The 2011 Coach of the Year nominees were selected by 56 voting members of the Football Reporters of Canada, including representation from each CFL market and a national chapter. Coaches are voted on based on their performance during the regular season, playoffs and Grey Cup.
WALLY BUONO
It's been touted as one of the greatest coaching performances of his long career. In a year that the BC Lions were hosting the Grey Cup in their own backyard, Wally Buono and his team were coming off a disappointing year in which they finished the 2010 regular season with an 8-10 record. With high hopes for the 2011 season, the Lions came out of the gate losing five straight games and six of their first seven. Led by Buono, the Lions turned their season around, winning 10 of their last 11 games and claiming first place in the West Division with an 11-7 record. They went on to defeat the Edmonton Eskimos in the Western Final and then the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the 99th Grey Cup.
It was Buono's fifth Grey Cup championship as head coach, and most likely his last as the winningest head coach in CFL history announced after the season that he would be stepping away from the sidelines. Buono remains with the Lions as General Manager and Vice President of Football Operations.
Buono has been named CFL Coach of the Year three times in his career (1992, 1993 and 2006).
PAUL LAPOLICE
In just his second year as head coach, Paul LaPolice led the Winnipeg Blue Bombers to a Grey Cup, after orchestrating one of the biggest turnarounds in CFL history. LaPolice took a team that finished 4-14 the year before and led them to a 10-8 record, first-place in the East Division for the first time since 2001 and an East Division Championship and Grey Cup berth for the first time since 2007.
The 2011 Blue Bombers were known for their defensive prowess, leading the league in many defensive categories including fewest yards allowed per game and quarterback sacks.
This is Coach LaPolice's first nomination for the Annis Stukus Trophy.
KAVIS REED
After finishing the 2010 season in last place in the West Division with a 7-11 record, Kavis Reed was brought in as head coach to turn around the Edmonton Eskimos. And he did just that.
In his first season as a CFL head coach, Reed led the Eskimos to an 11-7 record and second place in the West Division. The Eskimos hosted their first playoff game since 2004 and defeated the Calgary Stampeders 33-19 for a berth in the Western Final.
This is Coach Reed's first nomination for the Annis Stukus Trophy.
Past recipients
2010 -- Jim Barker, Toronto
2009 -- Marc Trestman, Montreal
2008 -- John Hufnagel, Calgary
2007 -- Kent Austin, Saskatchewan
2006 -- Wally Buono, B.C.
2005 -- Tom Higgins, Calgary
2004 -- Greg Marshall, Hamilton
2003 -- Tom Higgins, Edmonton
2002 -- Don Matthews, Montreal
2001 -- Dave Ritchie, Winnipeg
2000 -- Charlie Taaffe, Montreal
1999 -- Charlie Taaffe, Montreal
1998 -- Ron Lancaster, Hamilton
1997 -- Don Matthews, Toronto
1996 -- Ron Lancaster, Edmonton
1995 -- Don Matthews, Baltimore
1994 -- Don Matthews, Baltimore
1993 -- Wally Buono, Calgary
1992 -- Wally Buono, Calgary
1991 -- Adam Rita, Toronto
1990 -- Mike Riley, Winnipeg
1989 -- John Gregory, Saskatchewan
1988 -- Mike Riley, Winnipeg
1987 -- Bob O’Billovich, Toronto
1986 -- Al Bruno, Hamilton
1985 -- Don Matthews, B.C.
1984 -- Cal Murphy, Winnipeg
1983 -- Cal Murphy, Winnipeg
1982 -- Bob O’Billovich, Toronto
1981 -- Joe Faragalli, Saskatchewan
1980 -- Ray Jauch, Winnipeg
1979 -- Hugh Campbell, Edmonton
1978 -- Jack Gotta, Calgary
1977 -- Vic Rapp, B.C.
1976 -- Bob Shaw, Hamilton
1975 -- George Brancato, Ottawa
1974 -- Marv Levy, Montreal
1973 -- Jack Gotta, Ottawa
1972 -- Jack Gotta, Ottawa
1971 -- Leo Cahill, Toronto
1970 -- Ray Jauch, Edmonton
1969 -- Frank Clair, Ottawa
1968 -- Eagle Keys, Saskatchewan
1967 -- Jerry Williams, Calgary
1966 -- Frank Clair, Ottawa
1965 -- Bud Grant, Winnipeg
1964 -- Ralph Sazio, Hamilton
1963 -- Dave Skrien, B.C.
1962 -- Steve Owen, Saskatchewan
1961 -- Jim Trimble, Hamilton
