Legendary B.C. Lions Coach Caps Career with his fourth Annis Stukus Trophy

BUONO NAMED 2011 CFL COACH OF YEAR

Legendary B.C. Lions Coach Caps Career with his fourth Annis Stukus Trophy

TORONTO – Canadian Football League legend Wally Buono capped a storybook ending to his coaching career today when he was named Coach of the Year for 2011.

“It’s fitting that as we prepare to celebrate the 100th Grey Cup, we bestow this honour on a true leader who has long epitomized what is best about our league,” said CFL Commissioner Mark Cohon, after presenting Buono with the prestigious Annis Stukus Trophy at luncheon in Toronto.

“Wally Buono’s resume as a head coach ensures he will be remembered alongside the legendary names in CFL history – and 2011 may have been the pinnacle of his storied career.”

Buono’s British Columbia Lions won the 99th Grey Cup game last November at BC Place in Vancouver, defeating the Winnipeg Blue Bombers by a score of 34-23.

Not only did the win come on home soil, it completed a remarkable turnaround year for the Lions. Their 0-5 start to the season had some pundits questioning Buono’s coaching, despite the fact he had led teams to four previous Grey Cup victories , had won the league’s Coach of the Year award three times, and had won more regular season games than any other CFL coach in history.

The team responded by winning 11 of their remaining 13 regular season games, capturing first place in the Western Division and a berth in the Grey Cup, courtesy of a 40-23 Western Final victory over the Edmonton Eskimos.

“Wally often tells his players that life is seldom easy, and the greatest rewards are those you have to overcome adversity to achieve,” Cohon said. “The Lions’ success is 2011 is a testament to his philosophy, character and leadership.”

During this off-season, Buono announced his retirement from coaching, although he remains the Lions’ General Manager and Vice-President of Football Operations.

He received 45 first place votes in the Coach of the Year balloting conducted among 56 voting members of the Football Reporters of Canada, including journalists in every CFL market as well as a national chapter.

The other nominees for the award – Paul LaPolice of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and Kavis Reed of the Edmonton Eskimos – are part of the breed of new young coaches in the CFL.

Both completed turnaround seasons of their own. LaPolice’s Bombers captured first place in the Eastern Division, and a berth in the Grey Cup, after winning just four games the previous season. In his first year as the head coach in Edmonton, Reed led his team to a 11 -7 record, and a berth in the Western Final, one year after the Eskimos failed to make the playoffs.

Here’s a quick look at Wally Buono’s coaching career, by the numbers:

[LIST]
[*] Grey Cup victories: Five (1992, 1998, and 2001 with Calgary Stampeders and 2006 and 2011 with B.C. Lions – tied for most all-time with Don Matthews, Hugh Campbell, and Frank Clair)
[*] Grey Cup games coached: 9 (tied for most all-time with Don Matthews)
[*] Coach of the Year: 1992, 1993 (Calgary Stampeders), 2006 and 2011 (BC Lions)
[*] Regular season victories: 254 (the most in CFL history — Don Matthews has 231, Frank Clair 147, Ron Lancaster 142, Eagle Keys 131 Ray Jauch 127, Dave Ritchie 108, Bob O’Billovich 107, Bud Grant 102, Cal Murphy 99.)
[*] Became CFL head coach with the most regular season wins on September 19, 2009 with 23-17 win over Toronto, giving him 232 wins
[*] Lifetime regular season record: 254 wins, 139 losses and 3 ties
[*] Lifetime regular season winning percentage: .645 (first among coaches with 100 or more games, and sixth all-time).
[*] Playoff wins:17 (second to only Frank Clair, who had 22)
[*] Lifetime playoff record: 17-12
[*] Years coaching: 22 (1990-2011)
[*] Years in the playoffs: 21 (most all-time, ahead of Don Matthews 18 and Frank Clair 17)
[*] Playoff games coached: 29 (second only to Frank Clair’s 40)
[/LIST]
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